Ralph Lewis Wagner died May 16, 2020 at Munson Medical Center. Ralph was born March 10, 1951 in Traverse City to Goldie and Margariet (Sickels) Wagner. He attended Oak Park Elementary School, and graduated from Central High School in 1969.
At the age of 15, he started his career as a maintenance man at the Park Place Hotel. He worked there until 1981 and the went on to work for an oil company, traveling all over the U.S. He resumed working in maintenance for the Fox Haus Motor Lodge and Alpine Fairlane Apartments, working for Hugh Griffin. After 17 years, he next moved on to work for Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel until April of 2020.
In August of 1974, he married the former Linda Slaughter. Together they had two daughters; Jennell (Douglas) Straughen and Heather (Donald) Feriend. Also surviving is an honorary daughter April Wooster and five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Nicole, Aaron, D.J., and Malachi, sister Joyce Yanoski and brother Keaton Wagner both of Traverse City. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by brothers Wade, Rennie, Eugene and sisters Lois, Doris, and Ilene.
Ralph was a very skilled craftsman and proud of the furniture he built with his wife. Together they sold to many people in Chicago, Old Mission, and even to an individual from Texas that requested his piece shipped to his home. His craftsmanship extended into the kitchen as he loved to cook as well. His family remembers him as a very kind man who would help anyone.
A visitation will be held on Thursday May 21, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm at the Covell Funeral Home, 232 E. State St., Traverse City. The family will have a private funeral service, but it will be shared on Facebook live for others to virtually attend. Burial will be at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions are appreciated to his family via their Go Fund Me Page https://www.gofundme.com/f/ralphs-medical-cost
To stream the service on Facebook Live, please scroll down to the scheduled services section on this page and copy and paste the URL in to your browser.
Arrangements entrusted to the Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City.
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