Ray Noonan was born in 1948 at Manchester, Iowa and grew up in Cascade. He attended St. Martin's Grade School and Aquin High School in Cascade and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in May of 1970. That same year he was married to Carol Streng at St. Mary's Church in Cascade. After living one year away, Ray and Carol returned to Cascade in 1971 to the home in which they now reside. They have six children and 17 grandchildren. Ray's career was with the family business, Cascade Lumber & Manufacturing Company. Originally members of St. Mary's Parish, Ray and Carol are now members of St. Matthias Parish and the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastorate. Ray was ordained to the order of the Permanent Diaconate in July of 2009 at Nativity Church in Dubuque. Ray and Carol teach Baptism Preparation Classes. In ministry, Ray serves as Pastoral Coordinator for the Aquin Educational System in Cascade, assists at weekend Masses, performs Baptism, witnesses Marriages and presides at weekday Word and Communion Services.