Ralph Conrad Joslin's Obituary
Our dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother Ralph C. Joslin was born November 16, 1929 to Edna (Ealy) and Percy Joslin in Birmingham, Michigan. He passed away June 28, 2021, age 91, at his Edmore farm. Ralph was known for wood carvings in patriotism, pioneering, and Western genres, exhibiting locally.
Ralph cultivated lifelong interests in childhood. Violin lessons led to contributing musically at gatherings. He had chickens as a boy and always enjoyed baby "peeps." He loved visiting grandparents at Marion, Michigan, where his family moved in the 1940s. Ralph participated in Boy Scouts and FFA, achieving Regional Star Farmer. He graduated from Marion High School and completed an Agriculture Short Course at Michigan State University.
In 1951, Ralph began serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge for duty under enemy fire. He was posted as guard at President-Elect Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit. He often expressed in prayer gratitude for living in a free country.
Ralph met Audrey Wirth of Evart at a roller-skating rink, marrying June 14, 1952. After years of dairy farming, he became an artistic stonemason, and raised sheep. The family became active members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and moved to Edmore in 1969 for Christian education. After Audrey passed away in 2007, he married Dorie (Hunt) Iteen October 19, 2008.
Mourning his loss are Dorie; children, Jeanette (Bob) Smith, MD; Jeff (Shelley) Joslin, MD; Laurie (Rich) Greeley, RN; and Patty (Nathan) Greene, RD; stepchildren, Mike Noonan, Jr; George (Pam) Noonan; Angie (Frank) Kurtz; and Jennie Whetstone (Gary Sprague); grandchildren; great-grandchildren (two more expected); and sister Alice (Duane) Cass. Siblings Barbara (Clyde) Dunham, Emily (Dennis) Hoard, and Lyle (Dorothy) Joslin predeceased him.
Ralph's joy for life and caliber of character will continue to influence his family and community.
A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, July 5, 2021, at the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Edmore, Michigan. The family will greet friends on Sunday, July 4, from 5-7 pm at the Brigham Funeral Chapel in Edmore and from 10:00 am until time of service on Monday at the church.
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