Ralph H. Kries

A devoted husband, father, and proud Army veteran.

Ralph leaves behind his beloved & dedicated wife and soulmate of 54 years; Roberta, his cherished children; Mark and Christina, and his adored grandchildren; Jesse and Leah, who brought immense joy to his life. He is also survived by his brothers; Jim Krause, Bobby Krause (Donna), John Krause and Charlie Kries, his sister Christina Kries-Miller and his sister in laws; Flo Myers, Rosemarie Csik, and Dawn Baker (Jack), as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

Ralph was blessed with lifelong friendships, including his best friend Brittney Boyce, and he will be deeply missed by many others.

Ralph was loved by all who knew him. He will be especially remembered as the best Santa.

Ralph proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. Following his service, he dedicated 34 years to the Bloomfield Board of Education in facilities management before retiring. He was a member of the Bloomfield Elks Lodge No. 788 and gave countless hours to the Boy Scouts as a troop leader.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to organizations supporting homeless veterans or to the Boy Scouts, causes that were close to Ralph’s heart.

Ralph’s legacy of kindness, loyalty, and love will remain forever in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him.

A visitation will be held at D'Elia Funeral Home, located at 1300 Vermont Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701, on Monday, November 24, 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. A graveside service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery; 225 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover, NJ 07936, at 1:30 pm.