Ralph F. Holdheide, 78, of Eastview Drive, Fort Loramie, died at 3:43 a.m. Feb. 25, 2010, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.

He was born Nov. 17, 1931, in St. Rose, to Raymond and Josephine Evers Holdheide. On Oct. 9, 1954, he married Joan R. Winner, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Dave (Sharon) Holdheide and James Holdheide, all of Fort Loramie; two daughters, Diane (Nick) Bensman and Carol Holdheide, all of New Bremen; five brothers, Alvin Holdheide,and Leonard (Marilyn) Holdheide, all of St. Rose, Jerry (Velma) Holdheide, Newport, Werner (JoAnn) Holdheide, St. Henry, and Paul (Rosalie) Holdheide, Maria Stein; a sister, Wilma (Wilfred) Albers, Celina; two sisters-in-law, Rita Winner and Mildred Prenger, both of Coldwater; and five grandchildren.

Deceased are two brothers-in-law, Urban Winner and Leonard Prenger; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Gregor and Rita Holthaus.

He founded Holdheide Electric and Dairy in 1970 and retired in 1996. He also was a milk truck driver for Larger Brothers for 18 years. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Fort Loramie, where he was a Eucharistic distributor since 1988. He also was a member of the men's conference prayer group and a funeral rosary leader. He was a noble degree member of the Maria Stein Knights of St. John Commandary 313 and a member of the Minster Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. Steven Shoup officiating. Burial is at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. today and 9-10 a.m. Tuesday at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie.

Contributions can be made to the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging or the Fort Loramie Fire Department.

Condolences can be left at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.