Ralph Alvesteffer's Obituary
Ralph Alvesteffer, age 97, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024, at American House in Spring Lake, MI. He was born April 18, 1926, in Hart, MI, to Joseph and Florence (Ziegler) Alvesteffer. Ralph was engaged in farming until he began serving in the armed forces during WWII. After being discharged, he returned to Hart, and married Wanda Fenton, the love of his life, on June 5, 1948. They lived in Muskegon where he was employed at GTE for 39 years in many management positions, before retiring in 1985. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he served as chairman of the Parish Council and Finance Committee for 20 years, and a choir member for 25 years. He served as Director of Catholic Social Services, was a member of the Greater Muskegon Serra Club since 1980 and prepared their monthly newsletter for 15 years. He is survived by his four daughters, Linda Stefanich, Sandra Neff, Marsha (Tom) Wright and Barbara (Charles) Carriere; 10 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Germaine Malburg, Maxine VanDyke, Louise (Harold) Schaner, Lornella Faucher, Charlene Birkman, and Judith (Howard) Haight; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Wanda, on February 17, 2009; his parents; brothers, Leo, Robert, Gilbert, and Ronald; sisters, Eleanor Alvesteffer, Agnes Hewitt, and Roseanne Gross. Ralph especially enjoyed golfing and bowling (as long as health permitted), reading, crossword puzzles, birding, as well as, exploring family genealogy.
A FUNERAL MASS will be 10 AM on Friday, March 8, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (239 W. Clay, Muskegon, MI 49440) with Fr. Kyle Kilpatrick presiding and VISITATION 1 hour prior to the service. VISITATION with the family will also be held March 7, 2024, from 5-8 PM at The Walburn Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services (1547 W. Sherman Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441) with a ROSARY SERVICE at 5:30 PM. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to the St. Mary’s Building and Restoration Fund.
Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to be serving the Alvesteffer family. To share special memories with the family, please visit www.sytsemafh.com.
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