RALPH J. DERUCKI, age 95 of Jefferson passed away peacefully Tuesday May 31, 2022, surrounded by loved ones at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital. Ralph was born on May 11, 1927 in Milwaukee, WI. Ralph joined the St. Coletta family in 1936 when he was 9 years old. He has been an active member of the St. Coletta community for the past 85 years. He enjoyed participating in Best Buddies, Special Olympics, Nova Choir, the Franciscan Board, and leading the rosary. Ralph really enjoyed working. He worked at the St. Coletta greenhouse, Affirmative Industries where he did piece work, McDonalds, and Walmart. One job that was very important to Ralph was being a St. Coletta Ambassador. He wanted to help advocate for his peers who did not have a voice.

Ralph was active in the Knights of Columbus for 32 years and was an honorary lifetime member. He was a 3rd degree Knight and held the office of Inside Guard. Ralph’s faith was incredibly important to him. He was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi parish. In his younger days he was an altar boy at St. Coletta as well.

Ralph was a man of many talents. He spoke Latin, loved working on latch hook rugs, cross stitch, and knitting. He made blankets for the homeless veterans and would knit scarfs that won many awards at the Jefferson County Fair. He loved going to Fireside, watching musicals, and singing in the choir. When he was younger you could find him working on the farm in the summer with his best friend Ed O’Malley.

Ralph is preceded in death by his mother Leona (Derucki) Carroll, his sister Rose Chokel, his best friend and brother in Christ, Ed O’Malley, other family members and many of his St. Coletta friends. He is survived by his special friends and family at St. Coletta.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am at St. Coletta on June 16, 2022, with a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Burial will take place at Holy Cross cemetery in Milwaukee on June 16, 2022 at 2:30 pm

Please visit www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com or www.nitardyfuneralhome.com leave a condolence and to share a memory.