Ralph John Wensman
November 1, 1922 - November 30, 2002
Ralph J. Wensman, age 80 of Melrose, died on Saturday, November 30, 2002 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd at St. Mary’s Cathlolic Church in Melrose. Rev. Vincent Lieser will officiate and concelebrating will be Rev. Roger Thoennes. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. The Melrose Veterans Honor Guard will pray at 7p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m.
Ralph Wensman was born in Avon to Casper and Anna (Enneking) Wensman. He was united in marriage to Armella Zwack on October 7, 1947 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Ralph farmed until he was 19 years old and then moved to California where he worked for Consolidated Aircraft. He joined the Merchant Marines for 3 years. He was employed at Kraft Foods in Melrose until retiring in 1984. Ralph was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose and the Melrose American Legion Post 101.
Survivors include three children, Kenneth Wensman and his wife, Judy of St. Cloud, Karen Wensman of Melrose, Kay Marie Klien and her husband, Mike of Melrose; 3 grandchildren, Marcus, Jody and Jason and his wife, Nichole; one great-granddaughter, Lorne; sisters and brother, Julitta Rachey of Sauk Centre, Monica Frieler of Melrose, Leona Moscho and her husband, Joe of Melrose, Irene Donahue and her husband, Pat of Motley, Ann Stocks and her husband, Bill of Rio Verde, AZ, Rose Hempel and her husband, Bob of Bella Vista, AR, Betty Kampsen of St. Paul and Ed Wensman and his wife, Caroline of White Bear Lake.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Casper and Anna Wensman; wife, Armella Wensman in April of 1983; brother, Leander Wensman; sister, Hildegarde Rosen.
Serving as casket bearers will be Tony Wensman, Steve Kortenbusch, Bill Frieler, Tom Elfering, Steve Zwack and Gary Ramacher.
Serving as cross bearer will be Marcus Wensman and John Hiltunen will be scripture bearer.
Serving as honorary bearers will be Tony Wegleitner, John Faber, Delbert Petermeier, Barney Jacobs, Harold Klaphake, Vic Sunderman, Ron Tieman, Alcuin Stroeing, Leo Meyer, Larry Van Havermaet, Herbie Thelen and Maurice Stangler.
Military Honors are provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.
Arrangements are with Patton-Schad Funeral Service of Melrose.