Ralf L. Landmesser

Ralf L. Landmesser was born in Riga, Latvia on July 2, 1939. As the Russians started invading the Baltic Countries, the family started for Germany. With WWII looming, they were in Posen, Poland where Ralf’s Sister Karin was born. Near that time Ralf’s father, Erich, was conscripted into the German Army. As they reached the Elbe River ahead of the Russian Soldiers, American Troops were evacuating German Civilians across the river to areas held by US Troops. As they waited for a boat, a US soldier said there was a woman with two young boys and a baby in her arms and got them into a boat. They were about the last Germans to ford the river ahead of the Russians. Their efforts finally got them to a Village and farm near the Dutch Border in Schoppegan. There, they heard that Erich had been killed. After the war, they were sponsored by a relative in New Jersey and emigrated to the United States on December 29, 1951, and lived in Fanwood, NJ. Later Egon got a job on a farm in Mountain Lake, Minnesota and moved the rest of the family there. Later he started at the 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ralf got a job there in 1969. He met June Ellen Bachhuber in 1972 and they were married on December 7, 1973 and continued working at the 3M Company until retiring. After retiring, they moved to Sarasota, FL on January 1, 1994. During the summer months they would spend time on Deer Island, North of Pepin, WI. And in 2005, moved to The Villages, FL continuing to spend time on Deer Island. Ralf had extensive surgery in April 2014 and never fully recovered. He passed away on August 7, 2014. Ralf is survived by his wife, June of more than 40 years; Brother Egon (Edna) Landmesser, Sister, Karin (Ken) Keeney; daughters JoAnne (Phil) Simpson, Michele (David) Kaye, Ann Marie (Bruce) Foss, son, Ralf M. (Angela) Landmesser and also numerous Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. June continues to reside in The Villages. There will be a celebration of Life for Ralf on Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Alma. A memorial gathering will be at 11:00 AM with a service at 12:30PM. Burial will follow at Alma Public Cemetery. Talbot Family Funeral Homes of Alma assisted the family with arrangements.