RALPH JOSEPH ZERWAS, Age 87, retired accountant - died Saturday services pending at Foster-Petering Funeral Home
Zerwas passed away in Richmond, Texas, on Saturday April 14, 2012.
Ralph had recently celebrated his 87th birthday. He was predeceased in death by his parents, Joseph A. Zerwas and Lena Vogel Zerwas, and sisters Rita McGrann and Mildred McKay. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carolyn Gray Zerwas; his sister, Mary Jo Zerwas; his children, Mary Ann McAfee and her husband Emmett, Ralph Zerwas, Jr. and his wife Dianna; John Zerwas and his wife Cindy; James Zerwas and his wife Nola, Martha Dannenbaum and her husband Joe, and Patti Zerwas. He also leaves his grandchildren, John Zerwas, Jr., Emmett McAfee, Jr., Emily Zerwas Ritchie and her husband Thomas, Jamie Lynn Zerwas, Joseph Zerwas, Haley Zerwas, Brandon Zerwas, Sherry Zerwas Phelps and her husband Matthew, Joe Dannenbaum, Jr. and his wife Meredith, Carolyn Dannenbaum Hetrick and her husband Robert, and Kathleen McAfee. Ralph also leaves his two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Matthew Phelps, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph was born on February 2, 1925, in Watertown, South Dakota. He was drafted by the army in World War II and served in the South Pacific. Following the war, his family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, next door to the home of Carolyn Gray's family, where Ralph and Carolyn met and began dating. They were married in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while Ralph was a student at the University of Tulsa and studying business on the G.I. Bill. During this time he also served in the Oklahoma National Guard and was called again to serve in the Korean War. Ralph and Carolyn's first child, Mary Ann, was born in 1951 in Muskogee, while Ralph's unit was in Japan en route to Korea. Carolyn always kept a picture of Ralph in the crib so Mary Ann would know her father and not be afraid of him when she saw him for the first time.
After graduating from TU, Ralph worked for Gulf Oil Company, and the couple welcomed the births of their four other children. The Zerwas Family relocated about every 2 to 3 years as Ralph moved up in the company. They lived in Tulsa, Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Ralph retired from Gulf Oil in 1983, and he and Carolyn returned to Muskogee. They had recently relocated to Katy and Richmond, Texas, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Last month, they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
A visitation is planned for Friday, April 20, 2012, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary following at Foster-Petering Funeral Home located at 904 W. Okmulgee Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. The Funeral Mass for Ralph will be held on Saturday, April 21, 11:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or by calling (877) 958-2233.
As his unit the 279th Infantry Regiment would say, "Moving On"
Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.foster-petering.com
MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX -
Zerwas passed away in Richmond, Texas, on Saturday April 14, 2012.
Ralph had recently celebrated his 87th birthday. He was predeceased in death by his parents, Joseph A. Zerwas and Lena Vogel Zerwas, and sisters Rita McGrann and Mildred McKay. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carolyn Gray Zerwas; his sister, Mary Jo Zerwas; his children, Mary Ann McAfee and her husband Emmett, Ralph Zerwas, Jr. and his wife Dianna; John Zerwas and his wife Cindy; James Zerwas and his wife Nola, Martha Dannenbaum and her husband Joe, and Patti Zerwas. He also leaves his grandchildren, John Zerwas, Jr., Emmett McAfee, Jr., Emily Zerwas Ritchie and her husband Thomas, Jamie Lynn Zerwas, Joseph Zerwas, Haley Zerwas, Brandon Zerwas, Sherry Zerwas Phelps and her husband Matthew, Joe Dannenbaum, Jr. and his wife Meredith, Carolyn Dannenbaum Hetrick and her husband Robert, and Kathleen McAfee. Ralph also leaves his two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Matthew Phelps, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph was born on February 2, 1925, in Watertown, South Dakota. He was drafted by the army in World War II and served in the South Pacific. Following the war, his family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, next door to the home of Carolyn Gray's family, where Ralph and Carolyn met and began dating. They were married in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while Ralph was a student at the University of Tulsa and studying business on the G.I. Bill. During this time he also served in the Oklahoma National Guard and was called again to serve in the Korean War. Ralph and Carolyn's first child, Mary Ann, was born in 1951 in Muskogee, while Ralph's unit was in Japan en route to Korea. Carolyn always kept a picture of Ralph in the crib so Mary Ann would know her father and not be afraid of him when she saw him for the first time.
After graduating from TU, Ralph worked for Gulf Oil Company, and the couple welcomed the births of their four other children. The Zerwas Family relocated about every 2 to 3 years as Ralph moved up in the company. They lived in Tulsa, Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Ralph retired from Gulf Oil in 1983, and he and Carolyn returned to Muskogee. They had recently relocated to Katy and Richmond, Texas, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Last month, they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
A visitation is planned for Friday, April 20, 2012, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary following at Foster-Petering Funeral Home located at 904 W. Okmulgee Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. The Funeral Mass for Ralph will be held on Saturday, April 21, 11:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or by calling (877) 958-2233.
As his unit the 279th Infantry Regiment would say, "Moving On"
Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.foster-petering.com
MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX -
RALPH JOSEPH ZERWAS, Age 87, retired accountant - died Saturday services pending at Foster-Petering Funeral Home
Zerwas passed away in Richmond, Texas, on Saturday April 14, 2012.
Ralph had recently celebrated his 87th birthday. He was predeceased in death by his parents, Joseph A. Zerwas and Lena Vogel Zerwas, and sisters Rita McGrann and Mildred McKay. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carolyn Gray Zerwas; his sister, Mary Jo Zerwas; his children, Mary Ann McAfee and her husband Emmett, Ralph Zerwas, Jr. and his wife Dianna; John Zerwas and his wife Cindy; James Zerwas and his wife Nola, Martha Dannenbaum and her husband Joe, and Patti Zerwas. He also leaves his grandchildren, John Zerwas, Jr., Emmett McAfee, Jr., Emily Zerwas Ritchie and her husband Thomas, Jamie Lynn Zerwas, Joseph Zerwas, Haley Zerwas, Brandon Zerwas, Sherry Zerwas Phelps and her husband Matthew, Joe Dannenbaum, Jr. and his wife Meredith, Carolyn Dannenbaum Hetrick and her husband Robert, and Kathleen McAfee. Ralph also leaves his two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Matthew Phelps, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph was born on February 2, 1925, in Watertown, South Dakota. He was drafted by the army in World War II and served in the South Pacific. Following the war, his family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, next door to the home of Carolyn Gray's family, where Ralph and Carolyn met and began dating. They were married in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while Ralph was a student at the University of Tulsa and studying business on the G.I. Bill. During this time he also served in the Oklahoma National Guard and was called again to serve in the Korean War. Ralph and Carolyn's first child, Mary Ann, was born in 1951 in Muskogee, while Ralph's unit was in Japan en route to Korea. Carolyn always kept a picture of Ralph in the crib so Mary Ann would know her father and not be afraid of him when she saw him for the first time.
After graduating from TU, Ralph worked for Gulf Oil Company, and the couple welcomed the births of their four other children. The Zerwas Family relocated about every 2 to 3 years as Ralph moved up in the company. They lived in Tulsa, Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Ralph retired from Gulf Oil in 1983, and he and Carolyn returned to Muskogee. They had recently relocated to Katy and Richmond, Texas, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Last month, they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
A visitation is planned for Friday, April 20, 2012, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary following at Foster-Petering Funeral Home located at 904 W. Okmulgee Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. The Funeral Mass for Ralph will be held on Saturday, April 21, 11:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or by calling (877) 958-2233.
As his unit the 279th Infantry Regiment would say, "Moving On"
Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.foster-petering.com
MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX -
Zerwas passed away in Richmond, Texas, on Saturday April 14, 2012.
Ralph had recently celebrated his 87th birthday. He was predeceased in death by his parents, Joseph A. Zerwas and Lena Vogel Zerwas, and sisters Rita McGrann and Mildred McKay. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carolyn Gray Zerwas; his sister, Mary Jo Zerwas; his children, Mary Ann McAfee and her husband Emmett, Ralph Zerwas, Jr. and his wife Dianna; John Zerwas and his wife Cindy; James Zerwas and his wife Nola, Martha Dannenbaum and her husband Joe, and Patti Zerwas. He also leaves his grandchildren, John Zerwas, Jr., Emmett McAfee, Jr., Emily Zerwas Ritchie and her husband Thomas, Jamie Lynn Zerwas, Joseph Zerwas, Haley Zerwas, Brandon Zerwas, Sherry Zerwas Phelps and her husband Matthew, Joe Dannenbaum, Jr. and his wife Meredith, Carolyn Dannenbaum Hetrick and her husband Robert, and Kathleen McAfee. Ralph also leaves his two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Matthew Phelps, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ralph was born on February 2, 1925, in Watertown, South Dakota. He was drafted by the army in World War II and served in the South Pacific. Following the war, his family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, next door to the home of Carolyn Gray's family, where Ralph and Carolyn met and began dating. They were married in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while Ralph was a student at the University of Tulsa and studying business on the G.I. Bill. During this time he also served in the Oklahoma National Guard and was called again to serve in the Korean War. Ralph and Carolyn's first child, Mary Ann, was born in 1951 in Muskogee, while Ralph's unit was in Japan en route to Korea. Carolyn always kept a picture of Ralph in the crib so Mary Ann would know her father and not be afraid of him when she saw him for the first time.
After graduating from TU, Ralph worked for Gulf Oil Company, and the couple welcomed the births of their four other children. The Zerwas Family relocated about every 2 to 3 years as Ralph moved up in the company. They lived in Tulsa, Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Ralph retired from Gulf Oil in 1983, and he and Carolyn returned to Muskogee. They had recently relocated to Katy and Richmond, Texas, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Last month, they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
A visitation is planned for Friday, April 20, 2012, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary following at Foster-Petering Funeral Home located at 904 W. Okmulgee Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. The Funeral Mass for Ralph will be held on Saturday, April 21, 11:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or by calling (877) 958-2233.
As his unit the 279th Infantry Regiment would say, "Moving On"
Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.foster-petering.com
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