Funeral Services for Ron Raikes

Funeral arrangements have been made for former State Senator Ron Raikes who died Saturday night in a farm accident.

The funeral will be held Thursday, 1 p.m. at First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln. A private internment will be held in Ashland. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at Marcy Mortuary in Ashland.

The Saunders County Sheriff's Office says Raikes died after getting caught in a haybuster, or grinder on his farm near Ashland. A neighbor found Raikes under the machine about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. 

Raikes oversaw major changes in rural and urban school districts as chairman of the Education Committee. He served in the unicameral from 1997 until term limits pushed him out of his District 25 seat last year. Governor Dave Heineman said Raikes cared deeply about education and that he will be missed.  He was 66 years old.  Memorials can be made to the Ron Raikes Learning Community Scholarship or Clear Creek Memorial Sculpture.