Ralph E. Wienke, 88, Independence, MO, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2013. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 13, 2013, followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., KCMO, 64131. Services will begin with a Masonic Rose Ceremony. Memorial contributions may be made to Norfleet Baptist Church or Ararat Shrine Center, 5100 Ararat Dr., KCMO, 64129. Interment in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
Ralph was born March 26, 1925 in Danville, IL, son of Leonard and Hattie Fay (Jones) Wienke. He played clarinet in the all-grade school orchestra as well as the high school band and orchestra. Ralph was also in the Missouri Valley College Band, from which he graduated Cumlaude, receiving a B.S. in Administration (1947) and B.A. in Economics (1951).
While a student at Valley, Ralph was active in campus organizations, serving as president of Sigma Phi Delta, an English Fraternity, and Alpha Phi Omega. He was initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi, a national school fraternity, in 1950 and managed the college bookstore for two years. In the fall of 1950, Ralph met Georgia Jacobson, a St. Luke’s Hospital nursing student, who became his wonderful wife December 29, 1951. Ralph earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.
Ralph had an accounting career, working for such firms as Westinghouse Electric, General Motors Corp., Platte Pipe Line Co., and Troupe, Kehol, Whittaker and Kent, a CPA firm, retiring from the Metropolitan Community Colleges in 1990 as Business Manager of Pioneer Community College. He held adjunct faculty positions prior to retirement at the community colleges, Rockhurst University, Ottawa University, and William Jewell College.
Ralph was an active member in the community, joining Alpha Lions Club in 1982, serving as club president, 1984-85, club secretary, and editor of the club newsletter, “The Alphaclamation.” He served Missouri Lions District 26-H as District Governor, 1993-94. Through the 1980s and 1990s, Ralph served as auditor and/or treasurer of the Council of Clubs, Inc.; an organization awarding scholarships to students within a 40 mile radius of Kansas City. Formed in 1901, the organization existed for 100 years, transferring its assets to the Truman Heartland Foundation. Ralph served as committee member reviewing “council” scholarship applications awarded through the foundation. He was a member of the Ivanhoe Masonic Lodge, a 55 year member of the Ararat Shrine where he played the clarinet in the Ararat Band.
Ralph was a veteran of World War II, serving in a combat engineer battalion from 1943-1944, then the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations while with the Transportation Corps in Alaska from 1944-1945. He was discharged in 1946 while stationed at Fort Ord, CA. Ralph was a Charter Member of Norfleet Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, public relation chairman, treasurer, and sang in the choir.
Ralph is preceded in death by daughter-in-law Deb. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Georgia Ann Wienke; daughter, Cheryl and husband Guy Foster; sons, John and wife Yvonne, Kurt, Robert and wife Rose; five granddaughters: Candice, Kaci, Kate, Sarah, Desi; step granddaughter, Miranda Underwood and husband Travis; two great granddaughters, Harlie and Hayden.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18