Ralph C. Pitzke

Ralph C. Pitzke, 76, of Stetsonville, died Saturday, July 29, 2023 surrounded by family at Colonial Health & Rehab in Colby while under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church in Stetsonville with Rev. Richard Russow officiating.  Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Stetsonville.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Ralph was born September 16, 1946 in Medford to Rolland and Joyce (Harder) Pitzke.  He graduated from Medford High School in 1964.

On July 15, 1967, he married his beloved wife, Jean Berry at the Holway Lutheran Church.  Together they raised five children and had recently celebrated their 56th anniversary.

Ralph and Jean resided in the town of Deer Creek where Ralph had farmed his whole life.  He also sold seed for many years and enjoyed meeting new people and talking with his customers.  When Ralph wasn’t farming or talking farming, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working in the woods.  He had many memorable trips out west including elk hunting trips to Colorado and family camping trips to Yellowstone.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Jean of Stetsonville; children, Todd (Darla) Pitzke of Stetsonville, Tracy (Jim) Hartwig of Stetsonville, Lisa (Corey) Steen of Dorchester, Jennifer (Jim) Freudenthal of Medford, and Amanda (Brad) Loos of Marshfield; siblings, Linda (Larry) Kreklau of Schofield, Bonnie Nagle of Bowling Green, OH, Randy (Barb) Pitzke of Stetsonville; sister-in-law, Brenda Pitzke of Phillips; ten grandchildren, Miriah (Andrew) Graff, Danielle Hartwig, Samantha (Ryan) Switlick, Olivia (Max) Morines, Jenna, Briana and Corey Jr. Steen, Benton and Amabel Loos, and Wyllow Freudenthal; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Rodney Pitzke.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and thanks to the staffs of the Colonial Home and to St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care provided to Ralph.

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com to share condolences online.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph C. Pitzke, please visit our floral store.