Ralph T Brower, Jr.

Born December 27, 1924 in Dowagiac, Michigan to Ralph Thomas and Mary (Cameron) Brower, he married Marilyn Loomis on July 19, 1944 at Simpson Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, James (Shih Yu) Brower of East Peoria; one daughter, Janet Mangold of Pekin; four grandchildren, Addie Hutter of Colfax, Eric Mangold of Green Valley, Ashley (Jason) Dutton of Aptos, California, and Evan Brower of Salinas, California; eight great-grandchildren; and two nieces, Linda Larrimer and Mary Ann Gowing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Barb Dolson and Margaret Gentis; and one great-granddaughter, Savanah Hutter.

Ralph graduated from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. While at Purdue, he lettered in varsity basketball. He also played basketball while in the Army.

A United States Army veteran of World War II, he served from October 11, 1943 to November 24, 1947. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was responsible for construction and supplying rations and clothing for over 30,000 at a POW camp.

Ralph was employed at Caterpillar, Inc. for 35 years, retiring in 1985 as a technical operations manager at the Mapleton Foundry. He was a past National President of the Iron and Steel Society, past president of the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Foundryman’s Society, former trustee of the Foundry Education Foundation; and had been an industry advisor to the School of Engineering at the University of Illinois.

Ralph later served as the Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as a past president and board member. He was instrumental in developing the Pekin Marigold Festival. He served on the Marigold Festival Committee from 1974 to 1983 and was the chairman of the festivals in 1978, 1979, and 1980. Ralph was named grand marshal of the 2006 Pekin Marigold Festival.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin and had served as church treasurer, Sunday school treasurer, and had served on the finance committee and church council. He also was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Pekin where he was a recipient of the George F. Hixson Fellowship in 2004.

Ralph’s community service also included, served on the Pekin Salvation Army Board; Pekin Planning and Zoning Commission for over 30 years; past chairman of the Citizen’s Review Committee for PCHS; Tazewell/Woodford Youth Service Board; Past President and Board member of Tazwood Center for Human Services; past Executive Director to the Manito Area Regional Economic Development; Pekin Community Concert Board; Pekin Hospital Advisory Board; and District Member for the Boy Scouts of America; taught a business class for the Junior Achievement of Central Illinois; received the Pekin Jaycees’ “Distinguished Service Award”; and had served on the Pekin Community High School Board of Education and where he was a past president.

His memorial visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27, 2015 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Private inurnment will be at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin, with the Rev. Gary Ford officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Sustaining God’s Grace Building Fund, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or the Pekin Salvation Army, 243 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com