Raymond ("Big Ray") W. Tomberlin, age 80, of Grand Rapids, MN, passed away, surrounded by family on Friday, November 8, 2024.

Ray was born May 13th, 1944 in Grand Rapids, MN. He attended Grand Rapids schools, graduating in 1962 a proud Grand Rapids Indian. A standout athlete, sports were Ray's life.  He served as team captain and was named All-Iron Range Conference in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the all-time scoring leader in Grand Rapids boys basketball. A record he held for more than 30 years. He was named All-State and All-American Honorable Mention. His 1961-1962 basketball team won the district title, and his 1960 and 1961 football teams were IRC champions, going 13-0-1.  He is a charter member of the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. After graduation he attended Itasca Community College, where he was a multi-sport athlete, garnering All-Conference, All-Conference MVP, All-Region, and All-Region MVP honors in football and basketball. Despite having never wrestled before, he made it to the quarterfinals of the wrestling national tournament. He is an inaugural member of the Itasca Community College Sports Hall of Fame. After ICC, Ray attended the University of North Dakota on a football scholarship as a linebacker. He earned All-Conference Honors and UND Defensive MVP. After graduating from UND with a bachelor's degree in teaching and coaching, he signed a contract to play football for the Denver Broncos.

He married Karen Wright on August 19, 1967. Together, they started multiple girls sports programs at Greenway. Ray was the first girls basketball coach in 1974. He became the Dean of Discipline and head Football coach in 1976. His teams were tough, gritty, well prepared and successful. Other sports that he coached were: baseball, track, boys' basketball, and volleyball. In the early 80s, he started the Greenway athletes on the Bigger, Faster, Stronger strength training program and volunteered many hours in the weight room working with female and male athletes. He truly cared about his students and athletes.
After retiring as a special education teacher in 2004, he continued his passion of coaching.

Ray was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time at the shack. Hunting fishing, yardwork, planting trees, and sitting on the deck were just some of his outdoor hobbies.  He had a passion for traveling around the country in his van. Along with sports, he loved early Rock and Roll music and muscle cars.

Ray is preceded in death by his wife, Karen; his parents, Harry and Audrey; and son, Gregory. He is survived by his children, Rhaya (Daniel) Anderson, M'Kelle (Ryan) Petersen, Shea Tomberlin, and Justin (Lori) Tomberlin; sisters, Annette Anderson, Karen Olds; brothers, Gerald, Ronald, Larry, and Gary Tomberlin; eight grandchildren, Amber, Ashley, Allyson, Kennedy, MiKhara, Blace, Jaedyn, and Emerald.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids, MN on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM.