Ray Klomes has been volunteering with students and teachers at Justus Gage Elementary for quite some time.

He began enriching our students at Justus Gage during the fall of the 2008. Throughout the past 10 years, he has done his very best to tutor kids in math one to two days a week for both Sister Lakes and Justus Gages.

After completing this article, readers will truly believe in the saying, “You always become busier after you retire.” Ray’s weekly schedule is completely filled with volunteering obligations.

Ray is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team. He has also done the chains for seventh/eighth grade and freshmen/JV Dowagiac football games for the past 11 years.

Ray continues to be very active with the Dowagiac Memorial and Christmas Parades. He has been a Cass County Cancer Service Board Member for the last 8 years.

For the past 11 years, Ray has worked at the Niles Apple Festival during Exceptional Citizen Day.  Ray truly enjoys working with roughly 500 special needs kids on this day.

Mr. Klomes continues to be heavily involved with Dowagiac Elks as their Treasurer. Some of the events that he helps with include: Civitan/Elks Halloween Party, Special Citizens Prom at Elks, Junior Golf, Hoop Shoot, Pumpkin Patch at ISD and Breakfast with Santa.

Ray had an awesome day this past month as I noticed his face light up.

“It was a really good day when I worked with special needs students & individuals at the Pumpkin Patch Day,” he said about the event, which was hosted out at the Lewis Cass ISD.

For the current school year, Ray is working with Sarah Hodge’s fourth-grade classroom.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with Ray for the past three years and he is a very kind and patient man.” Hodge said. “He shows his love for kids as he is very reliable and is eager and willing to help out year after year.”

“He helps me a lot with my math facts and that’s why I am so good,” said Hannah McCuddy, a fourth-grade student. “Mr. Ray is also funny and nice.”

“He helps me with my multiplication facts,” said another fouth-grade student, Artie Ruiz. “He showed me the Nine’s trick and also helps me with fact families.”

Ray, your efforts throughout the past 11 years have not gone unnoticed. You are a very important part of the Justus Gage family, as well as the community of Dowagiac.

As mentioned above, students, staff and I love working with you. Thanks for all that you do for both the youth and entire community of Dowagiac and southwestern Michigan.

Bryan Henry

Principal, Justus Gage Elementary