Ralph R. Wilke

Visitation: At St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, (7255 W. Grange Ave., Greendale, WI   53129) on Wednesday, July 7^th at 4:00 PM.

Service: At St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, (7255 W. Grange Ave., Greendale, WI   53129) on Wednesday, July 7^th at 6:00PM.

Ralph was born on April 17, 1931, and passed away peacefully on June 29, 2021, at the age of 90.

Beloved husband of Marilyn “Skeeter” for 69 years.  Loving father of Scott Wilke (Deborah DeDecker), Gregory Wilke (Linda Cutty), Mark Wilke (the late Mary Sauer), and David Wilke (Elizabeth Grage). Dear brother of Nancy Grimm. Proud grandfather of Nicole, Christopher, Ashley, Shannon, Amber, Cailyn, Alexander, Chandler, Garrett, and Victoria. Beloved great grandfather of Keira, Lincoln, Briella, Nora, Kash, Ivy, Axl, Izzy, and Adriana. lso, survived and loved by nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends.receded in death by his parents, Robert “Bob” and Christine “Tina” Wilke.

Born and raised in Bay View, Ralph worked at Leader Paper Products, a Milwaukee south-side manufacturer now a 5^th generation family business, since 1952.  He became President and CEO in 1970 and held that role until 1993. Thereafter, he served as Chairman of the Board until 2012.

He was a graduate of St. Johns Military Academy and then served as Lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean era in the early 1950s. He married his Bay View High School Sweetheart Marilyn “Skeeter” Roesler in March 1951.

Ralph and his father, the late Bob Wilke, became captivated with auto racing when they began attending midget dirt car races at Wisconsin State Fair Park in the late 1930s. Ralph was only eight years old, but their growing passion for fast-moving automobiles would ultimately lead to sponsorships of Indianapolis racing cars and eventually the formation of their own racing team, the Leader Card Racers. Their team would go on to win hundreds of auto racing events, including 3 Indianapolis 500 victories and the Race of Two Worlds in Monza, Italy, in 1958.

The family would like to thank the many staff members at the Auberge Senior Living in Brookfield for the caring way they assisted Ralph in his final years. Also, thanks to the friends and family who made regular visits to meet with Ralph, be assured it made a difference.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Visitation at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, (7255 W. Grange Ave., Greendale, WI   53129) on Wednesday, July 7^th at 4:00 PM until time of service at 6:00 PM.