Ralph Walter Meltz
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Ralph Walter Meltz, 86, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 6, 2011, to enter eternal life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ralph was born on May 1, 1925, at the family home in the Town of Clemensville, the son of Walter and Dorthea (Muessler) Meltz. His grandparents immigrated from Germany to the United States in the late 1800's. Ralph grew up on the family homestead. At an early age, farming became his passion and life, instilling strong family values, character, love of his Lord and pride in "living off of the land". He believed that a good hard day's work brought a person back to nature and to God.
He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Ralph was a member of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neenah.
He attended and graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1943. It was there that he had met his sweetheart and the love of his life, Margaret Koch. They were married at her family home on June 12, 1946 - recently celebrating 65 wonderful years of marriage.
Every weekend during football season, Ralph would be watching the Packers with his wife and sons. He was always there to cheer them on. He liked to tend to a "small" garden each year and be the first one to harvest the crops to help with canning and freezing the fruits of his labor. Ralph looked forward to finding the best places to go for an auction with his oldest son. He enjoyed trying to find the "bargain" of the day, but often times, more than not, he would come home with than just the "bargain". When the kids were younger, trips to the Milwaukee Zoo and Wisconsin Dells (among other places), fishing at Mud Creek, going to the fair and picnics at the park, were only a few of the activities that he would make sure that the family did together each year. In later years, he and Margaret would make the yearly drive to vacation in Mississippi to visit with family. Get togethers, outings, and holidays with the family were always special to him.
No matter where Ralph went or who he talked to, he could always be counted on to share one of his many stories or jokes to help brighten someone's day. Because of that, the family always knew that it would be a while before he would come home from Larsen or Winneconne when it was time to run an errand.
Ralph was a very loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who enjoyed spending time with his family and always putting them first. He was very proud of them and their accomplishments.
Ralph is loved and will be missed by his wife, Margaret; daughters, Wendy Nimmer and Sherry (Jeff) Ratchman; son, Ken Meltz; grandson, Steve Wegner; granddaughters, Amanda Zelinski, Abigail Zelinski, Tracy Nimmer, and Brittany Ratchman; four great-grandchildren; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death and will be welcomed into his new life by his parents; one sister, Dorothy Cross; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James Cross, Roland and Blanche Rice, Glen and Geneva Koch, Clarence and Melinda Koch; niece, Evelyn Schultz; nephew, Charles Koch; son, Wayne Meltz; and granddaughter, Angela Wegner.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday, November 10, 2011, at Mueller Funeral Home, Winneconne, from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Richard Krahn officiating. Burial will follow in the Brooks Cemetery in the Town of Vinland. A gathering will be held on Thursday at the Vinland Town Hall (corner of Cty Rd GG and Cty Rd T) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A memorial in Ralph's name is being established.

Mueller Funeral Home
904 E. Main St.
Winneconne, WI 54986
(920) 582-4242
Please submit online condolences to
www.muellerfuneralhomeinc.com