Ralph G. Troyer
There will be a private family visitation and committal service held.
Memorial Service: Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Calvary Chapel in Sturgis.
Ralph Gaylord Troyer, age 91, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at The Birches in Leonidas, Mich. He was born June 19, 1928 in Lagrange, Ind.., son of the late Jerry and Orpha (Miller) Troyer. He grew up in Lagrange County, Ind., and attended Shipshewana School. He also attended Fairview Bible School. Ralph married Esther Carpenter on October 30, 1948 at Locust Grove Mennonite Church near Findley, Mich. He and Esther spent 13 years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan working in a church planting/mission program. Ralph grew up on a family farm near Emma, Ind., and spent most of his adult life farming near Engadine, Mich., and then at the current family farm in Nottawa Township near Nottawa, Mich., where he developed one of the top dairy herds in St Joe County. He spent several years running a sawmill business near Rexton, Mich., in the early 50’s and had a one-year stint working at Fan Coach (a travel trailer manufacturer located in Lagrange, Ind.) in 1964-65. After his retirement in 1996, he set up a wood shop on the Nottawa Township farm where he built and refinished furniture for many friends and family members. He and Esther continued living on the farm until moving to the Birches in 2018.
Ralph was a member of Calvary Chapel.
He is survived by three sons, Leon (Rebecca) Troyer of Three Rivers, Lennis (Nancy) Troyer of Burr Oak, and Brian (Teresa) Troyer of Coldwater; and daughter Valerie (Lavon) Yoder of Mendon; five grandchildren: Karen (Iman) Serna, Keith (Resa) Troyer, Gayle (Mark) Forrester, Nicholas (Kathryn) Troyer, and Courtney Troyer; 12 great-grandchildren; sister; Mary Louise Neff of Shipshewana, Ind.; and many nieces and nephews.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife Esther; his parents; two brothers, Wilbur and Clarence Troyer; and one sister, Shirley Neff.
Due to current meeting and travel concerns, a private/family visitation and committal service will take place. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel in the future.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Chapel Kids Club.
Online condolences maybe left for the family at schipperfuneralhome.com
March 21, 2020 @ 2:33 am
To the family of Ralph Troyer: We were sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing. Please know that we are thinking o f you at this difficult time knowing it is even harder with the virus concerns. May you feel God’s loving arms around each of you as you mourn his passing but also as you remember all the good things. Blessings. Mary Lou and Roger Farmer
March 26, 2020 @ 1:41 pm
To the family of Ralph Troyer:
Your father’s cousin, Waneta Miller, and her family extend our condolences to you all. Our mother treasures family and family connections even yet at 99 years of age. In January 2019 while I stayed with my mother, who lives on the family farm with my brother Galen, wanted so much to see her cousin Ralph and wife Esther. Your aunt Mary Louise rode with us and was kind enough to show the way to your parents home at the Birches. Your parents and our mother could hardly stop visiting. Mary Louise and I finally needed to end it, not wanting to exhaust any of them. Mom has such good memories of families gathered and cousins playing together. She, of course, also remembers good visits to your parents home as adults. As you walk this journey again, we remember you in this time of loss. It comes too soon after the loss of your mother in December. We wish you God’s blessing and peace.
Sherry Miller, Orrville, Ohio, second child of Waneta and Payson Miller