Ralph De Ruyter
Ralph De Ruyter, age 87, passed away on Friday, August 30, 2024, at his home in Berlin, Wis.
He was born August 13, 1937, in Cedar Grove, Wis, in the Louis and Ruth Lammers De Ruyter family farmhouse. Ralph graduated from Cedar Grove High School and later served four years in the U.S. Army.
Returning from the Army, he landed a job in Kiel, Wis, that included technical training to become a draftsman. A highlight of his early years around Sheboygan County was pitching four no-hitters in fast pitch softball.
He met Lynda Braithwaite, his wife of 63 years, at the Kiel Over Lanes. They married in 1961 and moved to Waupun, Wis, where he managed Tulip Lanes. Ralph became a full-fledged bowling proprietor when he purchased Berlin Lanes and moved to the community in 1967. Ralph loved being a bowling proprietor from the hey day of bowling when he met Howard Cosell at the National Bowling Proprietors Convention to the routine of taking the previous day’s cash to the bank every morning. Ralph carried the friendly bartender with him throughout life getting to know and always entertaining bowlers, waitresses, his fellow downtown Berlin business owners, doctors, nurses and hospital staff.
In addition to his 50 years owning Berlin Lanes, he had a passion for finding the next big thing (remember the worm farm & people powered vehicles?), watching all Wisconsin sports teams, collecting sports memorabilia, driving his PT Cruiser and fixing things without the manual.
Ralph thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasures in life-a round of golf at Mascoutin, a mint shake from Shepard’s, a Packer win over the Bears, a Sunday drive around rural Wisconsin, a juicy melon, the sweetest of sweet corn (with lots of butter) and a Berlin High School sporting event, especially when he could cheer on Lucas, Emily, Tim and Mari.
He’ll be especially missed by Lynda every night to help answer Final Jeopardy, his son Todd and family every Saturday morning for breakfast and his daughter Mia and family during every Packer and Badger game.
He is survived by his wife, Lynda; son, Todd (Joni) De Ruyter; daughter, Mia (Greg) Beltran; four grandchildren, Lucas De Ruyter, Emily (Radek) Buss, Tim De Ruyter and Mari Beltran; and three sisters, Edith Beernink, Althea (Allen) VerVelde and Phyllis Parrish. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Allen and Mark De Ruyter; and siblings-in-law.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 13, at 11:30 a.m., with a luncheon to follow at the Fox River Room at Berlin Lanes, 119 N. Pearl Street in Berlin. Private inurnment will be in Bush Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Memorials may be directed to ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Ralph De Ruyter, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.
Online condolences may be submitted and sent using the form below. You may also email condolences to the family through "barbolafc@yahoo.com". All condolences are private and sent only to the family.