Ralph Hellermann

Ralph P. Hellermann, age 52, of Melrose, died from cancer on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at the Melrose Area Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 21 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

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. Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Sunday evening.

Ralph Hellermann was born August 19, 1954, in Melrose, Minnesota to Paul and Alma (Hinnenkamp) Hellermann. He lived in the Melrose area all of his life. After graduating from high school, he attended Willmar Technical College for radio and TV repair. He worked for Melrose TV and Marine for 5 years. In 1979 he went into the NAPA Auto Parts business in Melrose and later purchased the NAPA store in Sauk Centre in 2003. Due to health reasons, he sold the NAPA stores to his nephew in January of 2006. Ralph enjoyed motorcycling, boating and snowmobiling. His free time was spent fixing and rebuilding cars. His latest project was a 1940 Chevy Coupe. Almost every summer Sunday was spent at the lake with his family. His love for boating and waterskiing was evident to all who knew him. He taught every niece and nephew to water ski. Ralph also enjoyed taking motorcycle trips with his friends. He traveled to many places; from Glacier National Park to Key West. He spent his life working hard and doing all the things he loved to do. Ralph was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Sts. Bernard and Elizabeth Council and the Melrose Jaycees. He was a member and past president of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce and was very active in the local Project Give a Gift.

Survivors include his sisters and brother, Marian Goebel, of Melrose, Elaine Thom and her husband Russ, of Sauk Centre, John Hellermann and his wife, Veronica, of Melrose, special friend, Dorothy "Dottie" Smith, many aunts and uncles, and his nieces and nephews, Jenny Heying, of Rice, Jeanne Thom, of Bradenton, Florida, Jared Thom, of Sycamore, Illinois, Kari Goebel, of Little Falls, Aaron Goebel, of Melrose, Adam Goebel, of Alexandria, Kristen Goebel, of Emily, Dylan, Alex, Jaden and Austin Hellermann of Melrose.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Alma Hellermann.Serving as casket bearers will be Aaron Goebel, Adam Goebel, Kristen Goebel, Jenny Heying, Jeanne Thom and Brendan Ironi.

Serving as cross bearer will be Dylan Hellermann and scripture bearer will be Kari Goebel. Gift bearers will be Kristen Goebel, Tristin Ironi, and Austin Hellermann. Mass servers will be Alex Hellermann and Jaden Hellermann. Honorary bearers will be Ralph and Kelly Revermann,Jay and Connie Petermeier,Pete and Patti Rothfork, Jim and Ivanna Meyer, Rick and Jenny Mayers, Jeff Klawater, Randy Messerich, Art Jacobs, Dan Petermeier, Pat Kraker, Barb Hannes, Robbie Gallant, Doug Carlson, John Ellering, Brian Jacobs, Ron Smothers, Carl Meyer, Jim Carstens, Teddy Kemper, Tom Hellermann, Joe Tschida, Dick and Rosie Van Beck, Gerald and JoAnn Boeckermann, Carol Kramer, and Dan Rieland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.