Ralph David Ginger

Ralph David Ginger of Sandwich IL slipped away to be with his lifelong valentine, Doris, on Wednesday February 14, 2018.  He was born in Cowden IL to Levi and Beulah Ginger on June 21, 1918 making him 99 ½ years young at his time of death. Ralph left home around the age of 16 and headed north, finding work as a farmhand on various farms in Oswego, Plano and Yorkville over the following several summers.  He was working for the Carlson farm in Plano when he was 21 and that is where he first met his future bride, although that would not happen for another 9 years as she was only 10 years old at the time!  He and Doris Carlson were married February 26, 1949 and they spent the next 68 years together until her death in February 2017. Ralph served in the US Army 298th Combat Engineers during WWII, landing at Omaha Beach 2 days after D-Day.  Along the way, he took time out to have his appendix removed on Christmas at a hospital in Belgium before rejoining his unit, thereby missing the Battle of the Bulge.    He was a member of the Yorkville American Legion Post 489 for over 50 years and served as Post Commander in the 1970’s.  He worked for Patton Tractor Co and then Crown-Trygg Construction until his retirement. He was a proud member of the Local 150 Operating Engineers for over 70 years! Ralph loved baseball games (go Cubs!), working on cars and doing woodworking in his garage where he made several pieces of furniture that are now cherished by his family. He and Doris were members of the Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ in Yorkville. Ralph is survived by his children,  Alan (Terry) Ginger of Marseilles, Carol (John) Schulz of Yorkville, Beverly Ginger of Park Forest, Nancy (Ben) Chandler of Plano, Dale (Jeff Hale) Ginger of  Chicago, and Dawn Ginger of Sandwich as well as his grandchildren, Eric (Myha) Ginger, Corey (Jen) Ginger, David (Laura) Schulz, Marcus Schulz, Kelly (Chris) Loeffler, Chris (Anna) Chandler, Kristin Chandler and Carly Chandler and 7 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sister Tessie Dugan along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, his daughter, Judith, and the rest of his siblings. Visitation will be at the Beverage Family Funeral Home in Sandwich IL, Sunday February 18 from 2pm-7pm.  Funeral services will begin at 11am Monday February 19 at Beverage Funeral Home with visitation the hour preceding at 10 am with Pastor Mark Gregory officiating.  Interment will be at the Elmwood Cemetery in Yorkville with military honors. Memorials in Ralph’s name may be made to the Yorkville American Legion Post 489 or the Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ.