Ralph Karstetter, 74

Born: Aug. 16, 1937

Died: July 15, 2012

Ralph Karstetter, 74, of Dowagiac, passed away at his home Sunday, July 15, 2012.

Ralph’s life began on Aug. 16, 1937, in Philadelphia, the son of Ralph and Elizabeth (McDonald) Karstetter. He was united in marriage to the former Barbara Secor on June 7, 1963, in Three Rivers.

Ralph worked as a pastry chef for the airlines for many years. He was a coach for the Dowagiac Little League; past-president of the PTO at Patrick Hamilton Elementary School in Dowagiac; a member of the Three Rivers Eagles Lodge; and he loved to fish and camp.

Ralph was an excellent roller skater, which is how he got his wife Barb’s attention many years ago in Three Rivers.

His loving family includes his wife, Barbara, of Dowagiac; children, Debra (Tim) Miller, of Kentucky, Scott (Allison) Karstetter, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Kevin (Tracy) Karstetter, of Dowagiac; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mary (Russell) Gard, of Elkhart, Ind.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Deloris Deter. His family will gather with friends at Yazel & Clark Chapel on Friday at 3 p.m. for a memorial service led by Chaplain Barbara VanEck.

Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the family in care of Barbara.

Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Ralph at www.yazel-clark.com.