Ralph "Lee" Sisler, 81, passed away Monday, October 21, 2013 in Austin, Texas, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Lee was born March 30, 1932 to Ralph and Doris Sisler in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the oldest of 4 children.
He grew up on the family farm near Grand Rapids. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1955 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Later that same year, he married his hometown sweetheart, Yulah Jean Brink.
He began his career with Caterpillar Tractor in Peoria, Illinois, where son Gary was born. Sons Paul and Gregg were later born in Minnesota after a move to 3M Company. Lee worked for 35 years for the 3M Company where his crowning achievement was managing a team that put a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) on the moon to provide astronauts with electricity during the NASA Apollo 12 mission.
Lee was an avid hunter and could do a mean duck call. He enjoyed fishing, golf, growing roses, photography and following the Gophers, Longhorns, and eating peanut butter toast. But most of all, he loved his family, children, and grandchildren. Lee was extremely proud of his family, and during any family event, he was always the man behind the camera.
Lee is survived by his wife of 58 years Yulah, sons Gary (Christine), Paul (Sheri), and Gregg (Sandy), sister Marilyn (Duane) Sea, sister Janet (Al) Eckmann, and brother Bill (Marilyn), 8 grandchildren Alison (Brian) Stone, Adam, Michael, Jenna, Dylan, Haley, Danny, and Garret.
The family will greet friends from 6-8pm on Friday, October 25 at Cook-Walden (6100 N Lamar Blvd) Funeral Home in Austin. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 10:30 am. A lunch will follow in the lunchroom. Burial will be in Grand Rapids at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Capital Area Parkinson’s Organization, P.O. Box 27565, Austin, Texas 78755
Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.
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