Ralph Robert Gnitka age 96, passed on Wednesday June 4, 2025 at his home in Maple Plain, Minnesota.  He was born March 27, 1929, in Franklin Township, Wright County, MN.  Ralph was married to Kathleen Mary Hance on December 27, 1951, and the two were one for 67 years until her death in 2018.  He was also preceded in death by his son-in-law William Schumacher.  He is survived by his four children: Gwen (Bill/deceased) Schumacher, Lisa, Tim (Vicki), and Andrea (Jeff) Merboth.  Nine grandchildren: Mariah (Daniel) Sand, Nick (Megan) Gnitka, Natalie (Kyle) Kramer, Mychael Gnitka, Abe (Joelle) Merboth, Joseph Merboth, Julia Gnitka, Dan (Ciara) Merboth, and Ahna Gnitka, as well as ten great grandchildren: Philip, Matthew, Conrad, Aurora, Nathan, Levi, Lewis, Elsie, Jonathan, and Brielle.

Ralph served in the US Army Counterintelligence during the Korean War.  He spent his career working for The Hartford underwriting Inland Marine Insurance.  His true passion was music, and he was a self-taught musician who learned to play by ear.  Ralph loved to entertain others by playing the accordion and guitar along with singing vocals. He was the founder and leader of the Ralph Robert band that played for thousands over the years at various weddings and venues.  Ralph and Kathy also loved to travel.  While their family was growing up, they took many trips including touring the West pulling a trailer and Eastern Canada, with 7 (including grandma) stuffed into a large sedan.  They continued to travel the world in their retirement and snow bird in Texas.  One trip they joyfully made multiple times was out East to see family.

Ralph had a smile and laugh that would light up a room and he maintained his sharp mind, great sense of humor and had a twinkle in his eye until the end.  A lifelong master gardener, he passed while harvesting rhubarb from his garden at his home in Maple Plain.  He was going to make his favorite dessert sauce for the family that was coming over to dinner that evening.  We will greatly miss, but never forget, this kind, humorous, hardworking, intelligent man that has blessed so many for so long.  We love you Ralph!

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound, Minnesota. A visitation will be held prior from 10-11 AM, all at the church. Private family interment in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Delano, Minnesota.