Ralph Alton Schafer Jr., age 68, went to be with the Lord on Monday October 25, 2021, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
Ralph was born on May 19, 1953, in Muskegon, Michigan, the son of the late Ralph and Maxine (Jepsen) Schafer. He was a graduate of Onekama High School, class of 1971. On January 11, 1999, he married the love of his life, Michele (Cox) Schafer, and they shared 22 years together.
He was a hard-working man. Ralph first started out working for Excelo and then moved on to Martin Marietta where he worked for many years and became a supervisor. He carried this same position at HarbisonWalker, Aluchem, and lastly at Graceland Fruit where he retired from in July of 2021.
Ralph enjoyed spending his time fishing, wood working, and playing with his cats.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Michele Schafer; his stepdaughter Athena (Lovell Manion) Stanis; his children Josh, Beau, Noah, and Samantha Schafer; numerous grandchildren; his sister LaVonne (Dennis) Beebe; his nieces Paulette (Ed) Johnson and Amber (Mike) Flippen; his brothers-in-law David Patch and Tracy (Denise) Cox; and many other family and friends.
Besides for his parents, Ralph is preceded in death by his mother-in-law Mary Jager, he was known as Shutup Ralph to her, and his brother-in-law Michael Cox.
No services will be held during this time.
Please share a memory with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. Arrangements were made by the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.