Ralph Wetzel

Ralph C. Wetzel, 83, of Bern, KS died Sunday October 5, 2008 at his home in Bern, KS.

Ralph was born on a farm southwest of Horton, KS on May 12, 1925, the son of Karl and Margaretha Molle Wetzel.

He started school at Clover Hill School then later moved with the family to Whiting, KS. He graduated from the Whiting school with the class of 1944.

He married Lula A. Heuppelsheuser on June 17, 1947. They moved to California that same year, he worked as cook at Eaton's Restaurant in Altedena, CA. They lived in Pasadena, CA till 1959. While living in California 3 children were born, two sons; Ronald and Darryl, and one daughter, Carolyn.

He moved his family to West Yellowstone in 1959. After the 1959 earthquake Ralph and his family were enroute to South Dakota to run a restaurant there when they stopped in Bern, KS to visit relatives. While there he decided to purchase the Bern Cafe. Ralph and his family operated the Bern Cafe for 17 years. He also operated a catering business out of a bus which was called "Have Food Will Travel".

Ralph worked for the Bern Extrusion Inc. for a short time. He then was the custodian / Bus driver for the Bern School 13 years.

Lula passed away on April 7, 1999.

Ralph was a member of the Bern Fire Department for 25 years, Lions Club of Bern, the Bern Sportsman's Club and the Knights of Pythia. He had served 9 years on the Bern City Council and also as Mayor of Bern. Ralph was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bern.

On May 10, 2003 Ralph married Dola Torkelson. She survives of the home in Bern. Other survivors include, his two sons; Ronald Wetzel and his wife Teri of Silver Lake, KS and Darryl Wetzel and his wife Lori of Bern, Kansas; a Daughter, Carolyn Huerter and her husband Max of Bern Kansas, one stepson, Bernard Torkelson of Buckley, Washington and one step daughter, Peggy Antonson of Lafayette, Oregon, and one brother Donald and wife Dorothy of Hemet, CA; eight grandchildren one step grandson, and nine great grandchildren.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lula, one sister Anna Gerber, brothers John, Walter, Jewel.

Funeral services will be Thursday October 9, 2008 at 10:30 am at the Bern United Methodist Church. Rev. Bill Driver will conduct the services. The organist will be Lynette Strathman and Cyril Steinlage will sing "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace". Casket bearers are Jerrad Andrews, Jerry Andrews, Jay Andrews, John Ringgold, Jonathan Robeson and Tyler Ross. Burial will be in the Bern Cemetery.

There will be a family visitation Wednesday evening October 8, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Popkess Mortuary in Seneca, KS. Memorials are being left to the Bern United Methodist Church Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the Popkess Mortuary, Seneca, KS.