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LAURIUM — Ralph John Bammert, Jr. passed away peacefully on November 8, 2018, at UP Health System-Marquette at the age of 85.
Ralph was born on June 5, 1933, in Laurium, and was the son of Ralph John Bammert, Sr. and Cecelia (Hebert) Bammert, of Mohawk. He graduated from Calumet High School in 1951, and attended Suomi College and Michigan Technological University.
Ralph honorably served in the Army from 1953 to 1955 and was stationed in Trieste, Italy, during the Korean War.
Following his discharge from the service, Ralph was a Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes and was employed at Calumet & Hecla in the data processing department, from 1956 to 1962. He also worked in the Accounting Department at Michigan Technological University, from 1962 to 1992.
Ralph was active in a number of service organizations, including the Calumet Elks #404 and the Knights of Columbus Council #1245. He also served on the Lake View Cemetery Board of Directors, from 1989 to 2018. He was proud to participate in the Honor Flight, in September, 2015.
Ralph was passionate about ice hockey, and dedicated 30 years of his life to serving in a variety of leadership roles for the Calumet Hockey Association, the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) and USA Hockey. He traveled the world with USA Hockey teams and visited Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Finland, Canada and Slovakia.
Ralph received numerous awards for his sustained and significant involvement in hockey, including the MAHA Appreciation Award, the William Kellogg Award for Outstanding Achievement and Dedication to Amateur Hockey, the USA Presidents Award, and the Paul Lehto Service Award.
Family and friends were extremely important to Ralph, and if having countless true friends is the measure of a life well lived, then Ralph spent the life he’d been given, exceptionally well.
For approximately 27 years, Ralph enjoyed spending the winter in North Redington Beach, Florida, with his wife, family and friends from Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Calumet, and Canada. He especially enjoyed walking on the beach and spending time in the breezeway.
Throughout his lifetime, Ralph also enjoyed tracking the ore boats on the Great Lakes, attending concerts at the Calumet Theater, going to local parades and simply spending time with his family and many friends.
Ralph battled Parkinson’s disease for 15 years, but he didn’t let it define his life and his “Ralphisms”, including “Life Is Good”, “It’s Better To Be Seen Than Shown” and “You Have To Play The Cards You’re Dealt”, always brought a smile to our faces.
Ralph is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Mary Ann (Bacher) Bammert, whom he married on July 13, 1957. He and Mary Ann recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Ralph (Julie) Bammert, of Littleton, Colorado, and David (Cathy) Bammert of Marquette. Ralph also has four grandchildren, including Ryan Bammert of Aurora, Colorado, Tyler Bammert of Fort Worth, Texas, Anna (Guy) Hoenke of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Jon Bammert (Jessalyn Depetro) of Marquette. Ralph also is survived by a brother, Gerald (Sharon) Bammert of Albuquerque, New Mexico; a brother-in-law, Martin (Lyn) Bacher of Lake Mills, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Additionally, Ralph is survived by many dear friends, including Phyllis and Tony Locatelli, and Charles (Digger) and Donna Ryan, whose friendship and support over the years, has been deeply valued and appreciated.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Eunice McKay; and in-laws, Martin and Anna Bacher.
Visitation will take place at the Ryan Funeral Home, on Friday, November 16, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an Elk’s Toast at 8 p.m.
An additional visitation will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Ryan Funeral Home.
Friends may call at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Calumet for the funeral service on Saturday, November 17, 2018, beginning at 11 a.m. Father Abraham Mupparathara will officiate.
A luncheon will immediately follow in the basement of the church. Interment, with veteran’s honors will be made in the Lakeview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ralph J. Bammert Jr. Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund, c/o the CLK Foundation, 57070 Mine Street, Calumet, MI 49913.
