Obit: Stuesser, Ralph H. (1924 – 2017)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Stuesser, Theisen, Panek, Koch, Derr, Walkush, Christenson, Paulisch, Bernstein

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05 Jul 2017

Stuesser, Ralph H. (5 JUL 1924 – 1 JUL 2017)

Ralph H. "Doc" Stuesser of Thorp, WI, died peacefully at Traditions Assisted Living on Saturday, July 1, 2017. He was 92 years old, four days before his 93rd birthday. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on July 5, 2017, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp, WI. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.

Ralph Harold Stuesser was born on July 5, 1924, in Richfield, WI. to Eugene and Ella (Theisen) Stuesser. As a child Ralph was very interested in animals and insisted on having a puppy when he was four years old. When his parents got him a stuffed puppy he threw it in the garbage and was inconsolable until he got his own real wire-haired fox terrier pup. Ralph's early love for animals was undoubtedly an indicator he would become a veterinarian. Doc was a sharp student and graduated from Slinger High School at the age of 15 in 1940. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison the next fall and after only two years was accepted into veterinarian school at Kansas State in Manhattan, KS. He graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1946 and practiced veterinary medicine in Thorp for over 60 years. He remained on the animal and farming advisory board for his daughters until his final day.

In addition to his interest in animals, Doc was very keen on athletics. In Doc's typical understated fashion, he claimed he won the starting quarterback position at Slinger High School because he was the only player who could remember all the plays; with a smile on his face Doc would then mention there were only four. However, the truth is Doc was a fine athlete who made the varsity baseball team in Madison only to find out he would not be able to pie, the season because he had been accepted into Veterinary school in Kansas. When he got to Kansas State he found out they did not have a baseball team so he tried out for the basketball team and became a successful player on the team during his tenure at the university.

After graduating and receiving his doctorate in veterinary science, Doc moved to Thorp and married Antoinette (Tosh) Panek on June 26, 1948. They didn't always agree, but had four loving daughters together.

Doc's interests included trap shooting, pheasant hunting and playing cards. He and his buddies at the Thorp trap club spent many happy hours shooting clays and were successful in winning many tournaments around the area. Doc enjoyed hunting and shooting trap with family and it was a tradition to shoot a round of trap when visiting Grandpa Doc.

Doc is survived by his four daughters: Barbara Koch, Judy Derr, Shary Walkush and Mary Lou Stuesser (Christenson); six grandchildren: Travis Koch, Michelle (Derr) Paulisch, Adam Derr, Angella (Derr) Frank, Jessica Stuesser and Griffin Christenson; three great¬grandchildren: Maia, Gib and Julian Paulisich; and one brother: Edward Stuesser.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Jamie Koch; two sons-in-law: John Koch and Gunner Walkush; one brother, Glen Stuesser; and one sister, Jean Bernstein.