1924
Ralph
2012
Ralph W. Kochsmeier
March 25, 1924 — January 18, 2012
Ralph W. Kochsmeier was born near Harrisonville, MO, on March 25, 1924, to Walter H. Kochsmeier and Bessie V. (Muench) Kochsmeier. He died Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Aberdeen Village, Olathe, Kansas.
Ralph graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1941. He attended Missouri Valley College and the University of Missouri before joining the US Navy in March 1943.
On June 1, 1947, Ralph married Frances L. Gilkeson. To this union two daughters were born, Vera and Shirley.
During Ralph’s Navy career as an electronics technician he served in WWII in the Pacific Theatre. He was at PT Boat Base 25 on Okinawa when the war ended. He served at Naval Air Stations and was on a radar picket ship that patrolled in the Bering Sea during the Cold War. The home port during this time was Pearl Harbor where his family resided. In 1963 he retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer and moved his family back to Harrisonville.
Ralph worked at DIT-MCO International Corporation in Kansas City for 22 years, retiring in 1987.
In 1982 he was granted a U.S. Patent on an apparatus for effecting electrical connections with multiple contact points. It is primarily used for the testing of computers.
After living in Harrisonville for 44 years, Ralph and Frances moved to Aberdeen Village Retirement Community, Olathe, Kansas in 2007.
Ralph was a member of Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Fleet Reserve Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a former member of the Harrisonville Lions Club.
Ralph was an avid woodworker and enjoyed working in his garden. He and Frances enjoyed their annual winter vacations to Hawaii.
Besides his parents Ralph was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne H. Kochsmeier.
He is survived by his wife, Frances, of the home; his children, Vera L. Brecheisen and husband Ted, Baldwin City, KS, and Shirley A. Siegel, Centerville, GA; and grandchildren, Dana Barnett, Lawrence, KS, Andrea Siegel, Birmingham, AL, and Jeffrey Siegel, Atlanta, GA.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri. Burial will be at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.
The family will receive friends Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the church.
Contributions may be made to the Harrisonville United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.
Ralph graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1941. He attended Missouri Valley College and the University of Missouri before joining the US Navy in March 1943.
On June 1, 1947, Ralph married Frances L. Gilkeson. To this union two daughters were born, Vera and Shirley.
During Ralph’s Navy career as an electronics technician he served in WWII in the Pacific Theatre. He was at PT Boat Base 25 on Okinawa when the war ended. He served at Naval Air Stations and was on a radar picket ship that patrolled in the Bering Sea during the Cold War. The home port during this time was Pearl Harbor where his family resided. In 1963 he retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer and moved his family back to Harrisonville.
Ralph worked at DIT-MCO International Corporation in Kansas City for 22 years, retiring in 1987.
In 1982 he was granted a U.S. Patent on an apparatus for effecting electrical connections with multiple contact points. It is primarily used for the testing of computers.
After living in Harrisonville for 44 years, Ralph and Frances moved to Aberdeen Village Retirement Community, Olathe, Kansas in 2007.
Ralph was a member of Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Fleet Reserve Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a former member of the Harrisonville Lions Club.
Ralph was an avid woodworker and enjoyed working in his garden. He and Frances enjoyed their annual winter vacations to Hawaii.
Besides his parents Ralph was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne H. Kochsmeier.
He is survived by his wife, Frances, of the home; his children, Vera L. Brecheisen and husband Ted, Baldwin City, KS, and Shirley A. Siegel, Centerville, GA; and grandchildren, Dana Barnett, Lawrence, KS, Andrea Siegel, Birmingham, AL, and Jeffrey Siegel, Atlanta, GA.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri. Burial will be at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.
The family will receive friends Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the church.
Contributions may be made to the Harrisonville United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph W. Kochsmeier, please visit our flower store.
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