Ralph J. Wildenberg

Age 87, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna. Ralph was born in Little Chute on May 30, 1915, son of the late Walter and Catherine (Verkuilen) Wildenberg. Ralph was a 1933 graduate of St. John High School in Little Chute, and on June 3, 1939, he married the former Kathryn “Kay” Mennen in Kimberly. She preceded him in death on May 21, 1981. Ralph was employed by the Kimberly Clark Mill in Kimberly until his retirement in May of 1976. Ralph taught welding for many years at Appleton Vocational School and served as a volunteer firefighter and as assistant fire chief for the Village of Kimberly. During his lifetime, Ralph was an avid sportsman, enjoying cards, fishing, hunting, golf, and bowling.

Ralph is survived by two sons: Michael (Jill) Wildenberg of Danville, Kentucky and David (Gigi) Wildenberg of Issaquah, Washington; three daughters: Mary Kay (Gilbert) Hietpas of Fond du Lac; Diane (Robert) Lorenz of Appleton; Karen (J) Johnson of Maple Valley, Washington; nine grandchildren: Paul (Lisa) Wildenberg, Steven (Candy) Wildenberg, Aaron Wildenberg, Tanya (Fred) Muller, Jeffrey (Amy) Hietpas, Alan Hietpas, Gregory (Beth) Hietpas, James (Jill) Van Geffen, and Russ (Bev) Van Geffen; eight great-grandchildren: Emily and Ryan Wildenberg, Joseph and Elizabeth Wildenberg, Jeffrey and Cody Hietpas, McKenzie Van Geffen, and Sophie Muller; three brothers: Raymond Wildenberg of Kaukauna, Owen (Joyce) Wildenberg of Appleton, and Merin (Peg) Wildenberg of Little Chute; three sisters: Josephine Weyenberg of Kaukauna, Mildred Langedyke of Little Chute, and Virginia Smith of Menasha; four sisters-in-law: Margaret Wildenberg of Kimberly, Elva Wildenberg of Kaukauna, Patricia Lynn of Grenada Hills, California, and Marian Mennen of Kimberly; a brother-in-law: Les Woeckner of Menasha. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Kathryn, a son Joseph, a great-granddaughter Taylor Muller, brothers Clarence, Arthur W., John (Myrtle), Martin (Margaret), Peter, and Arthur A. Wildenberg; sisters Anne (Bill) Behling and Nelda Woeckner, sisters-in-law Helen Wildenberg, Evelyn (Clarence) Gehrman, Rita (Ray) Vanevenhoven; and brothers-in-law George Weyenberg, Sylvester Langedyke, Gerald Smith, Don Lynn, Giles Mennen, and Joseph (Rosie Molineaux) Mennen.

The funeral liturgy for Ralph will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 600 E. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly with Fr. Dennis Bergsbaken officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 9 AM until the hour of the service.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, Wisconsin 54136
920-788-6202