Ralph Fischbach

Ralph M. Fischbach, age 83, of Melrose, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at the Saint Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 22 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Melrose Veteran's Honor Guard will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Ralph M. Fischbach was born March 25, 1925 to John and Christine (Hemmesch) Fischbach. He served in the Army during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. On December 29, 1948 he was united in marriage to Lucille E. Zierden at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. Most of Ralph's life was spent on his dairy farm in Melrose. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, the American Legion Post 101, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, Knights of Columbus Council #1633, and Sts. Bernard and Elizabeth Council. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, dancing, gardening, and bird watching.

Survivors include his children, Gladys (Terry) Henderson of Osakis, Janet (James) Thielen of Richmond, Tom (Sandy) Fischbach of Melrose, John (Debbie) Fischbach of Becker, Donald (Jenny) Fischbach of St. Cloud, Dennis (Jackie) Fischbach of Eagan, and Dale (Kelli) Fischbach of Becker; 33 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Clarence Fischbach of Sauk Centre, Aurelia Fuchs of Paynesville, Doris Hess of Paynesville, Vernon (Regina) Fischbach of Richfield, Nicholas (Evelyn) Fischbach of Paynesville, and Arlene (Ed) Raeker of Minneapolis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lucille Fischbach on June 22, 1999; brothers, Jerome and Harold Fischbach; 2 grandchildren, Keith Sunder and Jeffrey Thielen.

Serving as casket bearers will be Joshua Fischbach, Michael Sunder, Joel Thielen, Corey Fischbach, Ryan Fischbach, and Steven Fischbach. Cross bearer will be Stephanie Fischbach and scripture bearer will be Juanita Hendrickson.