Ralph Mehlenbacher

Male 1918 - 2005  (87 years)


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  • Name Ralph Mehlenbacher 
    Birth 05 Aug 1918  Dansville, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 26 Sep 2005  Wayland, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial St.Peter's Cemetery, Wayland, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Ralph and Pearl (Lander) Mehlenbacher
    Ralph and Pearl (Lander) Mehlenbacher
    Plot: Mehlenbacher
    Notes 
    • PERKINSVILLE/WAYLAND - Ralph Mehlenbacher, 87, passed away Monday evening, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Vincent House Comfort Care facility in Wayland.
      Ralph was born Aug. 5, 1918, in South Dansville, the son of Edwin and Bernice (Loveland) Mehlenbacher. He resided in the Loon Lake area until he was 19 years old, at which time he moved to Perkinsville to work as a hired man at Sunnyview Dairy Farms for a widow, Pearl Lander Isaman, and her three daughters. On April 6, 1940, Ralph and Pearl were married. Together, they owned and operated the dairy farm. For several years they would make 50-70 pounds of butter and whipped cream and distribute it weekly to their customers in Wayland and surrounding communities.

      As the girls got older and left home, Ralph and Pearl stacked the butter crocks and started sending the milk to the creamery. They also took great pride in their Guernsey cattle. For several years they took their cattle to different fairs and received many grand champion awards. On Oct. 14, 1966, after 26 years of marriage, Pearl passed away.

      Ralph continued to operate the dairy farm and on March 15, 1968, he married Eleanor Harter Bronson. Together they operated the farm, and during their years together they also raised beef cattle. On Oct. 29, 1979 after 11 years of marriage, Eleanor passed away.

      In 1984, Ralph sold Sunnyview Farms to his granddaughter and her husband, Donna Recktenwald Gessner and Jack Gessner. He then purchased a house on Granger Road in Wayland.

      During his retirement from the farm, Ralph volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels for more than 20 years. On Dec. 11, 1999, he married Dorothy Elsenheimer Kiefer, who survives and resides in Hornell.

      Ralph was the director of the German Mutual Insurance Co. for 48 years, serving as the treasurer for eight years. He was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ for more than 65 years, a lifelong member of the Perkinsville Fire Dept. and a member of the Golden-agers. He also was a member of the Buds-n-Blossoms Square Dance Club.

      Ralph was a hard worker and dedicated volunteer who still found time to be with his family. He was a loving father who was very proud of his entire family.

      Besides his parents and first two wives, Ralph was predeceased by a daughter, Betty Flickner; sons-in-law Carl Flickner and Kenneth Recktenwald; brother Erwin 'Mike' Mehlenbacher; and sister-in-law Wilma Mehlenbacher.

      In addition to his wife Dorothy, Ralph is survived by his daughters Frances (Ray) Mehlenbacher of Cohocton and Donna Recktenwald of Dansville; his grandchildren Kaye 'Cookie' (John) Clifford of Cohocton, Karen (Tom) Snowman of Cohocton, Harold (Cheryl) Flickner of Dansville, Donna (Jack) Gessner of Wayland, Shirley (Dennis) Rawleigh of Canaseraga, Nancy (Charles) Holtz of Wayland and Sally (Robert) Bartoo of Canaseraga; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; brothers Alvie (Theda) Mehlenbacher of Perkinsville, Ray (Frances) Mehlenbacher of Cohocton, Charles Mehlenbacher of Cohocton and Clinton (Laura) Mehlenbacher of Loon Lake; sister Alma (Donald) Oas of Naples; sister-in-law Hazel Mehlenbacher of Cohocton; and several nieces and nephews.

      Ralph's family and friends called from 1-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. Ralph's funeral service was conducted at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Perkinsville, the Rev. David Hotchkiss officiating. Interment took place immediately following at St. Peter's Cemetery, Perkinsville.

      Contributions in Ralph E. Mehlenbacher's memory may be made to the Vincent House, 310 Second Ave., Wayland, NY 14572. (GCE, October 6, 2005, p4)
    Person ID I15195  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 

    Family Pearl Margaret Lander,   b. 13 Dec 1906, Dansville, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Oct 1966, North Hornell, Hornellsville, Steuben Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Marriage 6 Aug 1940 
    Family ID F4347  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 05 Aug 1918 - Dansville, Steuben Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 26 Sep 2005 - Wayland, Steuben Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - St.Peter's Cemetery, Wayland, Steuben Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
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