Ralph George Fogal, age 99, of Lake City, IA died Monday, January 6, 2025, at Accura HealthCare Center in Lake City, IA. Ralph, son of Wesley Philip & Ethel Emma (McKee) Fogal, was born April 22, 1925, at home on a 67-acre farm, three miles outside of Greenville, PA. He was the youngest of four children. He was confirmed at First Presbyterian Church (1937) and graduated from Greenville High School (1943). He met Lois Aldean Riethmiller at Thiel College where they graduated in 1950, after which he attended Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). June 1953 was a busy month: Lois finished teaching June 3, Ralph graduated from Seminary June 4, they were married June 5 at First English Lutheran Church in Butler, PA, and he was ordained into the ministry June 19.

Ralph served as pastor of six Presbyterian churches in PA, MI & OH during 51 years of service in ordained ministry, which included a ten-week pulpit exchange in Hebburn, England (1974). Retiring in 1988, he continued serving as interim pastor, hospice chaplain, Director of Wayne United Ministries, Parish  Associate at First Presbyterian Church in Wooster, OH & airport driver for the College of Wooster. He &  his wife spent three months as Volunteers in Mission at Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, AK before moving to Passavant Lutheran Retirement Center, Zelienople, PA in 2001. There he served as President of the  Residents Council, was an active volunteer on campus (in particular, helping with programming for men); supplied area pulpits, worked at Boylan Funeral Home & made many personal calls and hospice visits;  he enjoyed woodworking and he knit over a thousand hats for Caps for Kids. In 2022, following the death of Lois, his wife of 68 years, he moved to Shady Oaks Care Center (now Accura HealthCare of Lake City),  near his daughter and her husband. He was a kind, generous man, a friend to anyone who felt alone, often saying "Ministry never ends when you are committed to serving and caring for others". He was forever grateful to those around him.

Ralph is survived by his daughter Sylvia (Jim) Streufert, son Paul (Brianne) Fogal, and five grandchildren:  Alayna (Matt) Nederhoed, Karl (Dayna) Streufert, Kelsey Brewer, Erik (Janae) Streufert, Breana Fogal and seven great-grandchildren: Adelynn, Ryland, Maybel & Ensley Nederhoed, Owen, Evelyn & Eloise Streufert, step-grandchildren Izzi Smith & Jay Bigger, a sister-in-law Nancy Riethmiller, two nephews- John  Wesley (Bonnie) Fogal & Robert (Pat) Fogal and two nieces - Mary Jane (Gene Ferrell) & Ruth (Loren)  Peterson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, two brothers - Arthur  (Anna) Fogal and Lawrence (Jane) Fogal and a sister, Mary Fogal, a niece Frances Lahr, and a nephew,  Samuel Fogal.

Lampe & Powers Funeral Home in Lake City, IA, and Boylan Funeral Home in Zelienople, PA are handling arrangements. A Celebration of Life was held Thursday, January 9 at 1:30p at Accura HealthCare. A  memorial service will be held Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. in Seaman Chapel at Passavant Lutheran  Retirement Center in Zelienople, PA with burial at Unity Cemetery, Greenfield, PA.

In lieu of flowers, suggested gifts in memory of Ralph can be made to: Habitat for Humanity, The Christian  Century & Heifer International.