Ralph Albert Tremmel

BLACK EARTH, Wis. - Ralph Albert Tremmel, 88, of 5477N E. Echo Lake Road, Mercer, died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Heartland Country Village Nursing Home in Black Earth.

Ralph was born July 4, 1929, in St. Nazianz, Wis., son of the late Paul and Teresa (Tilger) Tremmel and grew up in the Pittsville area. He served in the U.S. Army in Landstuhl, Germany, from 1951 to 1953 and participated in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight XXI in September of 2015.

Ralph was married to Joan G. Schill on June 30, 1955, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Auburndale by the Rev. Steinhauser. The couple lived in Marshfield and Sheboygan before moving to Tomah in 1972, where Ralph operated Tremmel Manufacturing, as well as TnT Enterprises and Pacesetter Homes with his wife, Joan. In 1980, Ralph began employment at Fort McCoy and retired from the Central Heating unit as a heating technician in 1994. Ralph and Joan moved to Mercer in 1994 where he was active in the Mercer Area Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9536 and Knights of Columbus Council 7228.

Ralph was a member of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Mercer. He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling and hunting. One of his greatest pleasures was traveling in his RV to spend time with family and grandchildren.

Ralph is survived by five children, Vicki (Curt) Drinkwine, Forest Lakes, Ariz., Bonnie (Ken) Eversgerd, Carrollton, Ga., Ron (Jill) Tremmel, Pewaukee, Carol (Jim) Schmitt, Mazomanie, and Lisa (Greg) Nelson, Lodi; nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) Shepherd, Douglasville, Ga., Jacqueline (Ben) Black, Douglasville, Ga., Kate (Joe) Spitz, Columbus, Miss., Elizabeth Tremmel, Minneapolis, Benjamin Tremmel, Pewaukee, Molly Schmitt, Madison, Curtis Schmitt, Mazomanie, and Grant and Samantha Nelson, Lodi; two great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Addison Shepherd, Douglasville; one sister, Laurelda Gadke, Loyal; brothers-in-law, Matt Schill, Wisconsin Rapids, and Jerome Schill, Auburndale; sisters-in-law, Catherine Bathke, Wisconsin Rapids, Margaret Mayer, Marshfield, Mary (Harvey) Pongratz, Minocqua, Beatrice Schill, Arpin, and Laura Schill, Vesper; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; two brothers, Kenneth and Harry Tremmel; and four sisters, Marguerite Tremmel, Myrtle Weiss, Evelyn Franz and Madelyn (Pat) Mech.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Sept. 7, at noon, at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Mercer, with the Rev. Ron Serrao, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in the Mercer Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Mercer-Manitowish Waters American Legion Post 424 and Mercer Area VFW Post 9536 Honor Guard.

Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood, Mich. Ralph's obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.