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Ralph Gertsch Jr. | Visitation:
Sunday, March 1, 2009
3:00 PM until 6:00 PM
Brettschneider-Trettin-Lederer Funeral Chapel
606 N. Oneida St.
Appleton, WI
Visitation:
Monday, March 2, 2009
9:30 AM until 10:30 AM
Grace Lutheran Church
900 N. Mason St.
Appleton, WI
Service:
Monday, March 2, 2009
10:30 AM
Grace Lutheran Church
900 N. Mason St.
Appleton, WI
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| | | Gertsch Jr., Ralph C.
Appleton
Ralph age 88, died peacefully Monday February 23, 2009 at his winter home in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, after a short illness. Ralph was born January 18, 1921 in Oshkosh, WI to the late Ralph C. and Emma (Niemuth) Gertsch Sr. He is a graduate of Appleton High School and attended Valparaiso University in Indiana. On June 21, 1947, Ralph was united in marriage to Evelyn Pearl Suehs.
Ralph began his career at Kurz and Root Company in Appleton. He went on to own and operate his own business in the pallet industry until his retirement in 1978. Ralph was an Alderman for Appleton’s 19th Ward, he was Chairman of Appleton’s Parks and Recreation Department in the 1960’s, and he also served as a Deputy Sheriff for Outagamie County. He was a Packer historian and season ticket holder for over 50 years. Ralph was an avid fisherman and hunter. Whether it was being first mate on Tub II fishing Lake Michigan, or moose hunting in Montana, the stories only got bigger. When not fishing, golf was the game and Ralph was still golfing a month before he passed. Many others will remember him as their card playing partner in bridge, cribbage, or a good game of poker. He was also a long time member of The Lions Club, and a lifetime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge #337 in Appleton.
Ralph is survived by his 2 daughters: Virginia Ann (Allan Jacob) Fritz, Hudson, WI; and Ellen Mae (Dr. Paul George) Braunschweiger, Hollywood, FL; 5 grandchildren: Laura, Jacob, Cheryl, Rebecca, and Raeah; 3 great grandchildren: Ivy, Tyler, and Zachary; and his good friends LaVerne Birkholz and Annabelle Hoeft. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother Kenneth Gertsch.
A Memorial Service for Ralph will be held 10:30 am on Monday March 2, at Grace Lutheran Church, 900 N. Mason St. Appleton, with the Rev. Judy Deckert officiating. Friends may call at the Brettschneider-Trettin-Lederer Funeral Chapel on Sunday March 1, from 3pm until 6pm, and after 9:30 on Monday directly at the church. An Elks Memorial Service will be held 5:00 pm Sunday at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place at Highland Memorial Park, Appleton.
In lieu of flowers and in Ralph’s memory, please direct your memorials to the Sylvester Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology-D31, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; P.O. Box 016960, Miami, FL, 33101.
Brettschneider-Trettin-Lederer
606 N. Oneida St. Appleton
733-7383 www.btlfuneral.com
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