Ralph Andree

Ralph was born on a farm in Coopersville Michigan on April 26, 1926, and the Andree family moved to Grand Rapids when he was a toddler, at the start of the Great Depression.

After being drafted on August 14, 1944, Ralph served in World War II in the US Army’s 96th Infantry Division. He arrived on Okinawa on April 26, 1945, his 19th birthday. Ralph served and fought on Okinawa and then was later assigned to a US Army base in the Philippines. His service and bravery earned him the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Returning home from the war in 1947, Ralph soon married Shirley Mae White on July 21, 1947. Together, they have four children, Rene, Kathy (Bob), Eric (Gwen) and Heidi (Zak), and six grandchildren, Aaron, Erica, Chris, Nate, Brent, Samuel. Ralph is survived by Shirley, his loving wife of 78 years and all children and grandchildren.

Ralph worked as a finishing specialist for the Baker Furniture Company in Grand Rapids for 24 years.

He loved cars and even built his own custom car. He also loved his 1965 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He was an accomplished woodcarver and greatly enjoyed woodworking. He was also an excellent artist, with a real passion for oil painting and particular fondness for the Masters from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau periods.

Ralph was preceded in death by his mother, Johanna Hermine Witte (orig. from Germany) and his father, Ralph Cyrus Andree (orig, from Friesland), and by his siblings, Dorothy, Nancy, and Wally. Also preceding Ralph are his maternal half-brothers Egon and Albin Von Pabben and his paternal half-brothers and half sisters Gertrude, Reka, Jeanette, Katherine, Harry, Grace, Cyrus and Alzie.

Service and visitation for Ralph will be Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11am at Reyers North Valley Chapel; and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trillium Woods Faith Hospice.