Joseph Paul Rammrath
THE WOODLANDS, TX
Joseph P. Rammrath, 88, a long-time resident of Phillipsburg, NJ, and The Woodlands, TX, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in The Woodlands. Born in Phillipsburg on October 8, 1931, Joe was the first-born son of German immigrants Joseph and Maria Rammrath. He graduated from Phillipsburg High School (Class of 1949) and Churchman’s Business College, where he met his wife of 53 years, the late Joan Marie (Bechtel) Rammrath of Easton, PA. He served with the U.S. Army National Guard in post-WWII Germany. He learned the upholstery, drapery and awning trade from his master craftsman father and worked with and succeeded him in operating Rammrath Upholstery in Phillipsburg until 1989 when he retired to Florida. He subsequently moved to The Woodlands in the early 1990s.
In Phillipsburg, Joe was a member of St. Philip & St. James Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees. In Texas as a member of Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, he continued to be active with the Knights as a 3rd degree member (Spring Texas Council 6557) and with the Widow & Widowers Group with whom he delighted in weekly socials and enjoyed sharing his favorite German beers. In retirement from a workshop in his garage, he produced quality canvas items and crafted intricate wooden arts and ornaments for friends and family. Congenial and ever-conversant, he was proud to tell tales of his travels through every state in the United States and also through Europe.
Survivors include his close-knit family of 3 children: Edward Rammrath and Kenneth (Stephanie) Rammrath, both of Houston, TX, and Frances (Trevor) Heller, Las Vegas, NV; 4 grandchildren: Brandon (Lindsey) Rammrath, Houston, TX, Capt. Taylor (Jill) Rammrath, USA, Enterprise, AL, Kelsey (Sgt. Nicholas, USA) Fusco, Reno, NV, and Daniel Heller, Reno, NV; and one great grandson Grayson Rammrath of Houston, TX. Joe is also survived by 3 siblings: Herbert (Pamela) Rammrath, Fort Lauderdale, FL and Naxos, Greece; Margaret Toomey, Houston, TX, and Rita (Cornel) Mhley, Easton, MD.
Friends are invited to visit with the family on Monday, March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 456S, The Woodlands, TX. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 3 at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Loch Dr., The Woodlands, TX, with interment thereafter in Forest Park The Woodlands Cemetery.
