Ralph Fred Roloff

We are only given so many years on this earth and no matter how many possessions or how much money we leave behind, our legacy is determined by our character and the way we lived. Ralph F. Roloff's legacy is founded in kindness, generosity, and proactive love. He fulfilled many roles in his lifetime; he was a loving and devoted husband to his wife Betty, an attentive and caring father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren, and a provider for his family. Above all else, Ralph knew that his primary role was as a child of God and that that his life on earth would not last forever. With that in mind he filled all of his days with the things that brought him the most joy, devoting everything to his faith and his family.

As summer approached in 1923, Rev. Ewald E. Roloff and his wife Martha (Birkholz) were anxiously awaiting the birth of their third child. The couple, being of German descent, had settled with their family in northern Lower Michigan in the town of Gladwin, where more than a quarter of the residents shared a similar heritage. On June 2 their family got a little larger when they proudly welcomed their son, Ralph, into the world. He was born on the farm that his parents, two brothers, Gordon and Gerald, and his grandparents called home. Living with his grandparents, some of Ralph's earliest memories were of listening to them speak, always in German, never in English.

While growing up, Ralph's father worked as a pastor and that meant moving when his father received a calling. Before he even reached school age, he and his family had already moved from Gladwin to the town of Weston, right on the southern edge of the state. At the age of 5, Ralph accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It is not uncommon for pastors to question the intentions of a child so young, but Ralph was very aware of what he was doing. While at an evangelism meeting, he approached the front of the church, ready to make this important step in his Christian walk alone. However, it wasn't long before he realized that he not only had Jesus Christ in his heart, but his mother standing at his side with her arm around him. Ralph was not only an astute little boy, but also musically talented. His older brothers would sometimes prompt him to sing in the doorway of local businesses to earn pennies to buy penny candy. At the age of 11, he took up playing the musical saw and joined the Singing Roloff Family. Around the time Ralph was finishing up grade school in a one room schoolhouse in Weston, his family was preparing to move again. This time they moved to Jackson where Ralph attended Jackson High School. During his time in high school he continued to excel in music and learned to play the trumpet.

Following his graduation from high school in 1941, Ralph moved with his family to Lansing where he got a job at a local factory. His father was the pastor of Miller Road Bible Church, which proved to be quite fortuitous for young Ralph. While attending church, he met Betty Williams and was instantly smitten with her. She had only recently broken up with her boyfriend, so Ralph wasted no time asking her for a date. Only months after their relationship began Ralph was drafted to serve overseas in World War II. The night before he left, he sang "I'd Rather Have Jesus," on the radio, a song that was special to his family and close to his heart. While he was away serving his country in the Philippines, New Guinea, and Luzon, specializing in chemical warfare, Betty waited for her soldier at home.

After his discharge from the Army, Ralph returned to Michigan and to his true love Betty. In what would be the greatest day of his life, on June 14, 1947 he married Betty in a ceremony performed by his father at Miller Road Bible Church. He opted not to go back to the factory, but instead started a Laundromat with his brother Gerald. It proved to be a very successful operation until the machines became affordable for everyday families. While still in Lansing, Ralph also got a college education attending Michigan State University for three years. Never forgetting to put God first, he served his congregation by teaching Sunday School for young children. He fondly recalled his days as a teacher, remembering the time that he had his head bowed in prayer, while several of his charges had escaped out the basement window. Much to his surprise, when he looked up he realized that he had fewer kids in the room at the end of the prayer than at the beginning!

Just four years after their wedding they welcomed their first son, Ron, and four years after that, their second son Kevin. Ralph and Betty were only in Lansing for a short time before they settled on Balfour Rd. in Cascade. To support his growing family, in the early 1950's Ralph took a position selling life, disability, and health insurance for Mutual of Omaha. He excelled at his job, serving as president of the Health Underwriters Association for several years and eventually becoming the General Manager at his office until his retirement in January of 1988. His family, however, was always his most important job and the pictures he had of them his most precious possession. They spent their summers together at Maranatha Bible Conference and when the grandkids came along they took trips to places like Disney World, Tiger baseball games, and Boblo Island. He loved old cars, particularly Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs, and one time while in Detroit for a baseball game, Ralph's Cadillac was stolen from him while he was watching the game.

Over the years Ralph had many hobbies that he enjoyed including photography, golf, and travel. In addition to the many trips he and Betty took their grandchildren on, the couple also traveled across the U.S., visiting every state, and around the globe to several countries in Europe and Mexico. Basking in their golden years, they even wintered in Florida for a number of years. Ralph was a strong supporter of MSU Spartans and their football and basketball teams. He also never lost his love of music, singing solo or in choirs and quartets, and owning an extensive CD collection. Although the last six years of Ralph's life were not easy, he was always at peace knowing that God was in control. His favorite Bible verse was Isaiah chapter 26, verse 3, which says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Ralph trusted the Lord with all of his heart and with his passing, his family can be confident in their faith that a table has been prepared for him in Heaven where he will dwell in the house of the Lord for eternity.

Ralph F. Roloff, age 83, of Grand Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at the Christian Rest Home. He was preceded in death by his brother Gerald Roloff. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 59 years, children Ron and Linda Roloff, Kevin and Debbie Roloff; grandchildren, Jeff and Christy Roloff, Tim and Shannin Roloff, Kara and Brad Deppe, John and Amanda Sherman, Daniel Roloff; great grandchildren Sierra, Kylee and Blake Roloff, brother and his wife Rev. Gordon and Fan Roloff and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11AM at Calvary Church, 777 E. Beltline with entombment in Graceland Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9PM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Rest Home, 1000 Edison or Hospice of Michigan, 1260 Ekhart N.E. 49503. The family wishes to thank Jim Hurst and the entire Christian Rest Home staff for their loving care. You may leave a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or view the Life Story Digital film by visiting www.lifestorynet.com