Ralph H. Wilke, 82, of Cass City, died peacefully Friday, July 26, 2019 in Covenant Medical Center, Harrison Campus, Saginaw. He was born April 17, 1937 in Detroit the youngest of three children born to William Louis and Elizabeth (Lenz) Wilke. He married Joyce Julia Joslin September 8, 1973 in Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Clair Shores.
Ralph graduated from Wilbur Wright School, Detroit with the class of 1956. He served in the U.S. Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ralph worked as a Fells Operator for Chrysler at the Hamtramck plant and later at the Highland Park plant until he was injured in the early l970’s. He enjoyed planting flowers, working jigsaw puzzles, knitting and crocheting, and camping with his family. Ralph loved to load the family in the car take them on “adventures”. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Ralph was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Joyce; children: Ralph Wilke II of Cass City, Darlene (Billy) Johnson of Caro; grandchildren: Melonise Johnson, Cassidy Johnson; cousins, nieces and nephews including, Pamela (John) Rank, Janet Szczygiel. He will also be remembered by Joyce’s family. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Phillip Szczygiel; brother and sister-in-law, William and Mildred Wilke.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Rev. Steve Bagnall officiating. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Ralph will be interred with his family in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Pallbearers for Mr. Wilke are: Ralph Wilke II, Billy Johnson, John Rank, Mark Walters, Michael Walters and Dan Maliskey. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2019 in Kranz Funeral Home – Cass City
10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Cass City
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
Debra L. Kranz (989) 872-2195
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph Henry Wilke, please visit our flower store.
Ralph graduated from Wilbur Wright School, Detroit with the class of 1956. He served in the U.S. Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ralph worked as a Fells Operator for Chrysler at the Hamtramck plant and later at the Highland Park plant until he was injured in the early l970’s. He enjoyed planting flowers, working jigsaw puzzles, knitting and crocheting, and camping with his family. Ralph loved to load the family in the car take them on “adventures”. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Ralph was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Joyce; children: Ralph Wilke II of Cass City, Darlene (Billy) Johnson of Caro; grandchildren: Melonise Johnson, Cassidy Johnson; cousins, nieces and nephews including, Pamela (John) Rank, Janet Szczygiel. He will also be remembered by Joyce’s family. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Phillip Szczygiel; brother and sister-in-law, William and Mildred Wilke.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Rev. Steve Bagnall officiating. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Ralph will be interred with his family in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Pallbearers for Mr. Wilke are: Ralph Wilke II, Billy Johnson, John Rank, Mark Walters, Michael Walters and Dan Maliskey. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2019 in Kranz Funeral Home – Cass City
10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Cass City
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
Debra L. Kranz (989) 872-2195
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