Ralph Lynn Criger

Ralph Lynn Criger came into the world July 14, 1933, in Hazel Park in a small, two-bedroom house on Hoover Street. He often spoke of sleeping in one room with his three brothers and Grandma and while not knowing the luxury of his “own room”, he knew the luxury of closeness with his siblings and Grandma, a loving, strong lady. From Hazel Park the Criger Family moved to Royal Oak on Windemere Street to a larger house where four boys had a whole attic in which to cavort and sleep.

Ralph attended St. Mary Catholic Church of Royal Oak and was a dedicated football “team” player earning recognition as All-State Parochial 1951. He was known as “Rough and Ready Ralph”. After graduation from St. Mary’s, he served in the U.S. Army in Fort Lewis, Washington, from 1953 to 1955. Besides being a lover of football, he coached little league baseball and football and took an active role volunteering in Royal Oak’s sports’ programs. He was an ardent fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and the University of Michigan football program.

Married in 1957 to June Elizabeth “Beth” (Hinschberger), Ralph and June settled in Royal Oak where he raised his family of four boys and a daughter; Paul (Catherine Howes - Brighton); Michael (Florida); Thomas (Marine City); Christopher (Charmaine Austin - Warren) and Susan (Michael Sherman - Kalispell, Montana). He leaves ten living grandchildren: Zachary, Caitlin, Matthew, Melissa, Joshua, John, Amber, Sadye, Lonis and Josephine. One grandson, Aaron Michael Criger, predeceased him in 2002. He is predeceased by his parents, Harold and Dorothy and two brothers, Kenneth and Donald. He leaves one living brother, James of Marquette, and many nieces and nephews.

Ralph’s occupation in sales led him into many areas being that of real estate (like his father before him), Johnson’s Wax, Borden Foods, and finally he spent 35 years in the wine and spirits industry with various Detroit distributors. In 1992 Ralph settled with his wife in Traverse City where he managed the wine sales division of H. Cox & Sons Distributors until his retirement in 2000. He spent the next ten years developing friendships with retirees who enjoyed the game of golf as much as he did. In 2010 he moved with his wife to Warren to live closer to family and enjoy his senior years.

Visitation for Ralph will be held Friday, May 19th from 3-9pm with a 7pm Scripture Service at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road, Warren, MI. He will lie In State on Saturday, May 20th from 9:30am until the time of his Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Malachy Catholic Church, 14115 14 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI.

Memorial donations in Ralph's name are appreciated to either the Father Fred Foundation (826 Hastings St, Traverse City, MI 49686) or to the Capuchin Ministries (1740 Mt Elliott St, Detroit, MI 48207).

Please share memories of Ralph at his guest book below.