Ralph Genz

Ralph was born in East Bernard, Texas to Ernest Christian Genz and Sophie Emma Louise (ne: Finke) Genz. He was baptized (1937) and confirmed (1950) into the Christian faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wallis, Texas. Ralph attended East Bernard Elementary School and High School graduating in 1955. He attended Wharton County Junior College graduating in 1957 with the highest male GPA. Ralph married Martha Anderson in August 1957. He attended The University of Texas at Austin graduating with a BSEE in 1960 and an MSEE in 1961. During college, Ralph was a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Phi Engineering Honor Society, and Sigma Ci Honor Society. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin Ralph was employed by Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, then Tracor in Austin, Texas and retired from IBM in 1999, in Austin, Texas. Ralph married Emma Louise Ohlenbusch Knippa on June 9, 1979 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austin, TX.

Ralph was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and a longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. He and Louise were active in their dinner club and TLC group. Ralph held the offices of Treasurer, Secretary, Board of Elders Chairman, and Board of Stewardship Chairman at several Lutheran Churches affiliated with The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, as well as sitting on the Board of Directors of KIMA (Koinoneo Independent Mission Agency). He was instrumental in starting Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Park, Texas, Point of Grace Lutheran Church in Pflugerville, Texas, and Concordia High School in Pflugerville, Texas. Ralph and Louise traveled on numerous mission trips to Mexico for KIMA and to Kenya, Africa for Redeemer Lutheran Church’s Eyeglass Ministry.

Ralph was a loving and devoted son, husband, father, friend, and granddad. He shared the love of Jesus with everyone, and instilled a deep faith into his children and grandchildren. During mission trips Ralph always said that Jesus put words in his mouth to witness. Ralph had a huge work ethic, but also knew how to relax and have fun. He enjoyed bee keeping, fishing, gardening, ranching, dominos, spending time with his grand and great-grandchildren, music, and never turned down good sipping whiskey. Ralph and Louise enjoyed many trips with family and friends in the U.S. (Alaska, Colorado) and abroad, including Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Wales, Austria, and Germany. Heartfelt thanks goes to the Brookdale Hospice caregivers, Johnna and Kyleigh, for giving Ralph such loving care during his brief illness. Ralph will be incredibly missed by family and friends but we are at peace that he is in heaven with his beloved family and friends.

Ralph is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Emma Louise his children Riana Quinn, Curtis Genz and wife Robin, Kristi Brown and husband Jim, Keith Knippa and wife Beth; sister-in-law Mary Ann Ohlenbusch; his grandchildren Shawn Watson, Jarrod Brown, Justin Brown and significant other Amber Grimes, Travis Genz and wife Sarah, Katelyn Backhaus and husband Jacob, Lindsey Genz, Brian Knippa, and Jacob Brown; great grandchildren Johnny Watson, Jaclyn Watson, Maddie Brown, Blake Brown, and Jaxon Brown; his nieces and nephews.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Sophie Genz, his brother Ernie F. Genz, sister-in-law Florence Genz, mother and father-in-law Martha Ohlenbusch and Ernest Ohlenbusch, sister-in-law Marilyn Kensing, brothers-in-law Mackie Kensing and Bob Ohlenbusch, and aunts and uncles in Germany and the U.S.

Pallbearers are his eight grandchildren, Shawn, Jarrod, Justin, Travis, Katelyn, Lindsey, Brian, and Jacob. Honorary pallbearers are John Brown, Richard Goodwill, Dan Bittner, Mark Gerdes, Floyd Schkade, Howard Faske, and Lonnie Raschke.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ralph’s memory can be made to the following organizations: KIMA (kimamission.org), Mission India (missionindia.org), Kenya Eyeglass Clinic (Redeemer Lutheran Church), or Concordia High School (chsaustin.org).

Final arrangements are in the care of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, TX.