Ralph A. Gries, age 77 of Kiel, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, December 3, 2016 at his residence surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ralph was born in the township of Meeme at home to the late Elmer and Marie (Schuler) Gries on August 11, 1939. He attended grade school at St. Isidore, town of Meeme and graduated from High School at St. Gregory Catholic School, St. Nazianz. In September of 1959 he married Dorothy Pfeifer at St. Wendel Catholic Church, Cleveland. Together they farmed in the town of Meeme for many years. Ralph served six and a half years in the Army Reserves. He was a member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Lions Club, Cleveland Fire Department, and Kiel Board of Education for 16 years, of which 9 Ralph served as President. Ralph served 7 years as the treasurer for the town of Meeme. He enjoyed being a Boy Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, 4-H Leader, as well as a foster parent for many years. He was proud to be the chairman of Tent City for the Farm Progress Days in 1997.
Ralph worked at Miller Imp., R.P. Jost Company, DHIA and was an agent for Rural Mutual Insurance for 21 years, 6 of which he was Associate Manager for 5 counties. In 2004 Ralph retired from Rural Mutual. In his retirement he helped the Kiel Area School District running the clock and scoreboard for 5 years, he was also a crossing guard for the City of Kiel. Ralph was a charter member and served as President for the Kiel Education Endowment Fund (KEEF).

He is survived by his wife of 57 years: Dorothy; four children: Ray (Gia) Gries, Maryland, Barb (Joe) Hall, Manitowoc, Dennis Gries, Kiel and Dan (Therese) Gries, Cleveland; 14 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. Ralph is further survived by his siblings: Harlan (Judy) Gries, Valders, Mary (Bob) Weller, Wausau, Anna Mae (Keith) Krish, Manitowoc, and Kathy (Dave) Tienor, Valders; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jim (Mary Lou) Pfeifer, Manitowoc, Lynne Pfeifer, Two Rivers, Mary Pfeifer, Manitowoc, Mike (Gayle) Pfeifer, Sheboygan Falls, and David Pfeifer, Manitowoc.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law: George and Marie Pfeifer; a sister-in-law: Ruth Ann Weinreis, two brothers-in-law: Gary and Ralph Pfeifer and daughter-in-law: Sandy Gries.

Funeral Service for Ralph will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at St. Thomas Aquinas (94 S. Lincoln Street), Elkhart Lake. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be Fr. Daniel Volkert, with entombment at Knollwood Memorial Park, Manitowoc.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Meiselwitz-Vollstedt Funeral Home (815 6th Street), Kiel. The visitation will continue at St. Thomas the Aquinas on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM when brief family rites will be held.

In Lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Ralph's name for KEEF; the endowment he started that helped children.


The family wishes to thank Vince Lombardi Cancer Care Center, Sharon S. Richardson Hospice and Fr. Dan Volkert for all the compassion and care shown to Ralph and his family.