Ralph F. Leppelmeier

Ralph F. Leppelmeier, age 91, of Edgerton, Ohio, passed away at 10:20 A.M. on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, in Dream Haven Assisted Living, Edgerton, after an extended illness. Mr. Leppelmeier attended Edgerton Schools and worked at The Aro Equipment Corporation prior to World War II. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific with the 5th Army Air Force, 8th Photo Reconnaissance Group as a Technical Sergeant for a wing of P-38's. His service started in Brisbane, Australia, and then progressed to Port Moresby, New Guinea; Biak Island, Indonesia; Leyte Island, Philippines; Clark Field, Philippines; Okinawa, Japan; and finally Yokohama, Japan. After the war, he was engaged in family farming for the rest of his life. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church near Sherwood, Ohio and he enjoyed wintering with his northwest Ohio friends in Texas. Ralph Frederick Leppelmeier was born on May 4, 1921, near Edgerton, Ohio, in Defiance County, the son of Howard F. and Lydia (Fischer) Leppelmeier. On April 6, 1947, he married Berneda D. Headley in Edgerton, Ohio, and she survives. Other survivors include one son and wife, John (Janet) Leppelmeier, of Bryan; one grandson and wife, Jason (Sonya) Leppelmeier, of Cassopolis, Michigan; one granddaughter and husband, Julie (Kenneth) Garmenn, of Auburn, Indiana; two great-grandsons, Caleb and Austin Leppelmeier, of Cassopolis, Michigan; one great-granddaughter, Noelle Garmenn, of Auburn, Indiana; and several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his son, Daryl W. Leppelmeier, on April 27, 1987; his parents; one brother, Harold Leppelmeier; and an infant sister. Services for Ralph Frederick Leppelmeier will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Edgerton, Ohio, with Reverend Mark DeLassus officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Edgerton, Ohio, with military grave side rites conducted by Edgerton American Legion Post #10. Visitation will be held in the funeral home two hours prior to the service, from 12:00-2:00 P.M., on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Memorials in the name of Ralph Frederick Leppelmeier are requested to St. John Lutheran Church in Sherwood or to Dream Haven Assisted Living.