Obituary for Ralph J. Gertz
Ralph J. Gertz, 88, of
Ironwood, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at his daughter's home in
Midland. He was born Jan. 25, 1923, in Verona Location,
Wakefield, son of the late Joseph and Delia (Roverato) Gertz. He attended St.
Ambrose schools in Ironwood, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in
1941. He then was employed as a meatcutter at Reid's Market in downtown
Ironwood. Ralph entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 18, 1943,
serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, and
was honorably discharged as a corporal on Jan. 25, 1946. Following his
discharge, he returned to Ironwood and worked at the Roddis Lumber Mill, for the
City of Ironwood at the city gas plant, and as a truck driver for Reinerio
Distributing until injury forced his retirement. Ralph was a member of Ironwood Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 1823 and Northland Chapter No. 66, Disabled American Veterans.
He enjoyed roller skating in his younger years, hunting and fishing, and loved
spending time with his family and grandchildren. On July 19, 1947, he was married to Ilta M.
Hautamaki at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Msgr. J.B.
Moriarity. Ilta preceded him in death on April 19, 2002. Surviving are a daughter, Mary Eileen "Meg"
(Ted) Eastling, Midland; six grandchildren, Rachel, Jeremy, Amy, Aaron,
Stephanie and Stacey; six great-grandchildren, Danielle, Zachary, Sydney,
Olivia, Aiden and Jordan; a sister, Leona Lerza, Ocala, Fla.; and numerous
nieces, nephews, and brothers-and-sisters-in-law. Besides his parents and wife, Ralph was
preceded in death by a daughter, Colleen Hambrick, on July 11, 2006; and two
brothers, Bernard and Cliff. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March
8, at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at the
funeral home, where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood
American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Spring burial
will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday
at the funeral home, and again from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday. To view Ralph's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Ironwood, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at his daughter's home in
Midland. He was born Jan. 25, 1923, in Verona Location,
Wakefield, son of the late Joseph and Delia (Roverato) Gertz. He attended St.
Ambrose schools in Ironwood, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in
1941. He then was employed as a meatcutter at Reid's Market in downtown
Ironwood. Ralph entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 18, 1943,
serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, and
was honorably discharged as a corporal on Jan. 25, 1946. Following his
discharge, he returned to Ironwood and worked at the Roddis Lumber Mill, for the
City of Ironwood at the city gas plant, and as a truck driver for Reinerio
Distributing until injury forced his retirement. Ralph was a member of Ironwood Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 1823 and Northland Chapter No. 66, Disabled American Veterans.
He enjoyed roller skating in his younger years, hunting and fishing, and loved
spending time with his family and grandchildren. On July 19, 1947, he was married to Ilta M.
Hautamaki at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Msgr. J.B.
Moriarity. Ilta preceded him in death on April 19, 2002. Surviving are a daughter, Mary Eileen "Meg"
(Ted) Eastling, Midland; six grandchildren, Rachel, Jeremy, Amy, Aaron,
Stephanie and Stacey; six great-grandchildren, Danielle, Zachary, Sydney,
Olivia, Aiden and Jordan; a sister, Leona Lerza, Ocala, Fla.; and numerous
nieces, nephews, and brothers-and-sisters-in-law. Besides his parents and wife, Ralph was
preceded in death by a daughter, Colleen Hambrick, on July 11, 2006; and two
brothers, Bernard and Cliff. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March
8, at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at the
funeral home, where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood
American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Spring burial
will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday
at the funeral home, and again from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday. To view Ralph's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.