Ezequiel Ramirez

Ezequiel “Pepe” Ramirez passed away of Covid on March 2, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Pepe was born April 10, 1942, in Wheeler, Michigan to Manuel and Guadalupe (Sanches) Ramirez. Pepe was one of twelve brothers and sisters (Gonzalo, Otilia, Manuel, Alberto, Felix, Frances, Fidel, Lorenzo, Ezequiel, Angela, Guadalupe and Roberto). Growing up he learned the value of hard work as he worked on the family farm and also in the cherry orchards in Traverse City. Pepe had a passion for baseball and excelled in the sport in high school and later played in the minor leagues for the Cincinnati Reds farm team. He proudly served in the Air Force for over four years before returning back to Michigan to work for Dow Chemical. During this time, he met and married the love of his life, Joyce, and immediately became a father to her three daughters, Kathy, Cindy and Julie. Pepe and Joyce were the owners of the El Dorado Motel in DeWitt and in 1969 he began his 37-year career at General Motors (Fisher Body). Soon after, their family was blessed with two more girls, Melissa and Michelle. Pepe was outnumbered six females to one. He passed on his love of life, devotion to family, passion for sports, cars and green grass to all five girls.

Pepe helped start the little league baseball program in DeWitt where he taught young boys how to play the game that he loved more than any other sport. He could also be found behind the plate as umpiring was another great passion. He made the jump to girls softball as he coached Michelle’s team for over seven years. Pepe was a great sports fan. He loved watching Michigan State football and the Detroit Tigers. But the DeWitt Panther football team was his favorite. He watched Kathy and Cindy cheer and Julie, Melissa and Michelle march in the band. He had been attending games since the 1970s. He cheered for nephews and grandsons that donned the blue and gold Panther uniform for both home and away games. Pepe supplied the varsity team their half-time Snicker bar snack for over ten years. There was no fan more loyal or respected than Pepe was.

He was a man of quiet faith and had a deep love for his family. He loved spending time with his brothers, sisters and their children. He spent many weekends at Beaver Creek in Gaylord camping with family. After retiring in 2006, Joyce and Pepe spent many winters in Arizona at a camping resort in Mesa. Pepe loved to make people laugh and never missed a chance to lovingly tease you about something. He cherished his time at McDonald’s almost every morning with some amazing friends, especially his brother, Bob. His big smile and warm hugs are what we’ll all miss the most.

Pepe is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Joyce Ramirez; children, Kathy (Chris) McNeilly, Cindy (Richard) Malamed, Melissa (Mario) Carrizales, and Michelle (Joe) Wright; brothers Alberto (Mary), Fidel (Mary Helen), Lorenzo (Ellen), Roberto (Ginny); sister, Angie (David) Curtis, sisters-in-law Rosalva and Amelia, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Gonzalo, Manuel and Felix, sisters, Otilia Loera, Frances Shenah and Guadalupe Ramirez, and daughter Julie Eve Hyde.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, Saturday, March 25, 2023, followed by the funeral at 11:00 am at Heritage Baptist Church, 1380 East Round Lake Rd, DeWitt, Michigan. Interment will follow at Gunnisonville Cemetery with special military honors from the Wright Patterson Air Force Honor Guard and other special service members.

A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at the Catholic Community of St. Jude, 801 N. Bridge St., DeWitt, MI.

Services provided by Gorsline Runciman of DeWitt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the DeWitt Football Touchdown Club, PO Box 348, DeWitt, MI 48820 or Venmo at @PantherFootball.