Ralph Sixel

Ralph Lincoln Sixel, passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Pine Haven Christian Home where he was a resident for 3 months. He was 92 years old.

Ralph was born December 15, 1923 at home in the Town of Mosel to Richard and Ruth (nee Horneck) Sixel. He completed his schooling thru 8th grade at the Haven Graded 2-room school house. He was one of seven whom were the 1st confirmation class in the new building of St. Mark's United Church of Christ in Cleveland. The seven stained glass windows on the east side of church are in honor of the class.

On July 1, 1944, he was united in marriage to Betty Faith Cogswell of Manitowoc. He took great joy in the telling of how he met Betty while fishing in Townsend, WI and that he was from Cleveland (not Ohio, but Wisconsin).

Ralph was raised with a strong work ethic. He worked on the family farm, drove truck for Alvin Reyer, hauled milk for C. F. Heckman and worked for A. L. Wagner lumber company in Haven (now RichCo Structures). In 1957, he founded his own business, R.L. Sixel Electric. He retired at the end of 1985, and his sons, Gary and Jeff, and Leonard Schwinn purchased the business, which is now known as Sixel and Schwinn, Inc. Upon his retirement, Ralph pursued his second career as a woodworker. The family has many special pieces of furniture which he had built.

Ralph was a life-long member of St. Mark's UCC, where he spent many years on the consistory. Ralph was involved in many civic duties throughout his life; he served as Town Chairman for the Town of Mosel, was a Sheboygan County Supervisor, volunteered with the Haven Fire Department where he also was a past president, and served on the Board of Directors at Lakeland Mutual Insurance.
He was a driving force in the building of Mosel Lakeview School in the early 1960's, and active on the building committees for the Haven Fire Station and University of Wisconsin - Sheboygan.

Ralph was very proud of his work on the family genealogy; he "pecked it out" on a typewriter.... "oops", and he would start over. He enjoyed polka music, especially the Arwin Herzog Orchestra. Ralph and Betty traveled to Germany in retirement and always longed to return. He enjoyed his annual fishing trips to Canada and loved to just get in the car and drive. Often, the family would have a hard time tracking down Betty and Ralph because they were off on an excursion.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Betty Faith, and their children: Gary (Vicki) Sixel, Christine (James) Hayon, Jeffrey (Susan) Sixel, Keith Sixel, Lee (Nancy) Sixel. He is further survived by his grandchildren: Stefanie (Justin) Trakel, Sarah (Joel) Reuter, Jennifer (Jon) Arentsen and Maggie Hayon, step-grandchildren: Traci (Tracey) Brill, Deena (Dean) Kapelka and Travis (Krystal) Drossel, 7 great-grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren, 1 step-great-great grandchild, his sister, Jeanette Kissinger, his brother Richard (Mary Lou) Sixel, Jr., sister-in-law Alice Cogswell, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other friends.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, mother & father-in-law, Rual (Alvina) Cogswell, his Brother-in-law, Allan Kissinger and his brothers & sisters-in-law Russel (Evelyn) Cogswell, Rual (Jewel) Cogswell, Virgil Cogswell and Virginia (Al) Roberts.

Funeral Services will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at St. Mark's United Church of Christ, W1307 Orchard Rd. in Cleveland. The family will receive visitors at the church on Thursday from 3 - 6:30 p.m. He will be laid to rest at St. Mark's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Mark's Canopy Fund.

A special thanks to Embrace, especially Judy & Wendy whom cared for Betty & Ralph at their home. The family would also like to say a special thank you to the staffs of Pine Haven and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their care, comfort and support.

Zimmer Westview Funeral and Cremation Care Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com to sign the guestbook.