Ralph was born in New Athens, Illinois on July 22, 1918. He was the son of George and Katie Krazer. Ralph grew up in Southern Illinois. He helped with duties around the family farm. Ralph graduated from Freeburg High School where he was a miler on the track team. After high school he went to work for Thorp Seed Company near Clinton, Illinois. When asked to spend half of each year in Argentina during the harvest season he told the boss “I didn’t lose anything down there and don’t feel the need to go lookin’.” Soon after that he was laid off. He then became a garment cutter and truck driver for a lingerie manufacturer in St. Louis, Missouri until he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1941. During World War II he served in the Air Corps as a mess sergeant in England, North Africa and Italy. Upon his return to the States, he married his sweetheart, Anita Kammler, on May 5, 1945.
Ralph began his career in the coal mining industry in 1945, when he went to work as a clerk for the United Electric Coal Company’s “Red Ray” mine near Bellville, Illinois. The company moved him to several other mines during his career. He retired in 1980 as mine manager of Freeman United’s Fidelity Mine #11 in DuQuoin, Illinois. His tonnage production records at that mine were never surpassed.
In 1984, Ralph and Anita moved to Abilene to be near their two sons, Steve and his wife Sue of Abilene, David and his wife Elaine now of Frisco, and their families. Ralph worked as the “fix-it” guy around Christian Village Retirement Apartments until he was age 90. During that time he also spent time fixing things for friends and volunteering at the Food Bank and Global Samaritan Resources. He was an avid storyteller, big band music lover and woodworker. He made countless initial trains and footstools for friends and family everywhere. Ralph was a member of the Highland Church of Christ, where he served as an elder for a number of years.
Ralph is survived by his sons and their wives as well as four grandchildren: Adam Krazer, Melany Krazer, Mallory Krazer and Patrick Tate; one great grandchild: J-Jay Marron; and ten zillion friends. He was preceded in death by his ‘Sug’ Anita, his parents and his granddaughter, Amy.
Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 PM, Friday, September 12th at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory Street in Downtown Abilene.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 13th at the Highland Church of Christ, North Fifth and Highland in Abilene.
Memorials can be sent to the Food Bank of Abilene, Christian Service Center or Global Samaritan Resources.
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