Ralph K. Wischnewski

Ralph K. Wischnewski, 89, of Fond du Lac, formerly of 487 Vermont Street, died Thursday, December 27, 2012, at the Fond du Lac Lutheran Home.He was born on March 23, 1923, in Fond du Lac, a son to Otto and Augusta Bastian Wischnewski. Ralph was a graduate of Fond du Lac Senior High School, Class of 1941.Ralph began his service with the United States Army in January of 1943. On May 29, 1943, he married Marie Felda at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac. He then returned to his unit and was later deployed to the European Theater of operation. He participated in the D-Day invasion and later guarded high ranking German officers before the Nuremberg Trials. He was honorably discharged in 1945.Upon his return, he was employed with the Fred Rueping Leather Company until 1954. He later joined the U.S. Postal service where he worked for 31 years as a letter carrier until his retirement in 1985.Ralph enjoyed many hobbies including leather tooling, stained glass construction, and oil painting. He was an avid Green Bay Packer and St. Louis Cardinal fan.Ralph was a lifetime member of Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, and served as an usher for the past 50 years. He was also a lifetime member of the Fond du Lac Noon Optimist Club and served as president.He is survived by two sons: Jim (Lou Ann) Wischnewski of Chippewa Falls, and Gary (Jo Ellen) Wischnewski of Fond du Lac; five grandchildren: Erica Lyberg (special friend, Jeff Buss), Shauna (Bryan) Joas, Marne (Dan) Stuck, Nathan Wischnewski, and Ben Wischnewski (special friend, Colleen Jachowicz); six great-grandchildren: Morgan and Ingrid Lyberg, Griffin and Elyse Joas, and Jack and Brock Stuck; a brother, Robert “Arch” Wischnewski of Fond du Lac; nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marie on June 29, 2003; three brothers: Walter (Emily) Wischnewski, Clarence (Ruth) Wischnewski, and Roland (Ernestine) Wischnewski; three sisters: Esther (Jake) Fiebig, Dorothy (Bill) Heise, and Betty (Bob) Heise; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Wischnewski and Emma (Herbert) Stargardt; two brothers-in-law: Peter (Esther) Felda, and Jacob Felda. The funeral service will be held at noon on Monday, December 31, 2012, at Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church, 20 Wisconsin American Drive, Fond du Lac, with Rev. David Pavesic officiating. Private family burial will follow in Estabrooks Cemetery. The visitation will be on Monday at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.Memorials may be directed to the Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund or Fond du Lac Lutheran Home.

Ralph K. Wischnewski

March 23, 1923 - December 27, 2012