Ralph H. Wilkie Jr

Ralph Hazen Wilkie, Jr. 69 of Gaylord, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Otsego Memorial Hospital. Born on April 18, 1945, in St. Johns, Michigan, Ralph was the son of Ralph Hazen and Rose Evelyn (Lozen) Wilkie. The family moved to Gaylord when Ralph was young, and he graduated in 1963 from Gaylord Community Schools.

Ralph met Janet M. Flones in Gaylord and they married in Clare on September 12, 1964. For a number of years they lived in Three Rivers, where they owned and operated the Windmill Restaurant and later, Hard Times Café. Ralph also worked in insurance sales and for many years he was a truck driver.

If you asked Ralph how he was doing he would always respond, “Never felt better in my life.” That positivity sprang from his love for his family. Ralph enjoyed buying, remodeling and selling homes and woodworking. He was an avid hunter and loved the time he spent with his family at “deer camp” in Stanwood. His love for his family cannot be understated as family was everything to Ralph. He cherished being a grandfather and always had sage advice for the younger generations of the family.

Ralph is survived by Janet, his wife of over 50 years; his children, Keith (Denise) Wilkie of Battle Creek, Dennis Wilkie of Gaylord and Kim (Emily Horvath) Fast of Lansing and his grandchildren, Christopher, Jordan and MacKenzie. Ralph is also survived by sisters, Lisa (Bob) Duczkowski of Gaylord and Marilyn Edgerly of Florida; brothers, Ed (Judy) Wilkie of Blissfield, Jim (Linda) Wilkie of St. Louis, Michigan, Wendell (Loretta) Wilkie of Saginaw and Doug Wilkie of Wayland; a sister-in-law, Sharilyn Wilkie of Minnesota and a brother-in-law, Jim Sabo of Reed City. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Donna Moeckel and Carolyn Sabo; a brother, Ray Wilkie and brothers-in-law, Dean Moeckel and Greg Edgerly.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM on Monday, February 9, 2015 at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 850 North Center Avenue where funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 10, 2015. Pastor Dan Bowman from Gaylord First United Methodist Church will officiate.

Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to the Gaylord Blue Devils Athletic Boosters, PO Box 682, Gaylord, MI 49735. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com