Ralph J. Bakewell

Ralph J. Bakewell, age 82 of Onalaska, WI passed away Sunday, January 5, 2025 at his home. He was born October 20, 1942 in Waukon, Iowa to the late Joseph and Luella (Schulte) Bakewell. He attended St. Patrick Grade and High School in Waukon IA. Ralph married Kathryn (Netwal) in 1966 and had 3 children: Debbie, Steve and Diane. 

Ralph was an avid race car driver back in the day and you would find him at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway almost every Wednesday night for many years with his family up in the stands watching the red, white and blue #60 car. There are many memories of his children rolling down the hills in the yard inside a stock car tire. Besides racing, Ralph was a jack of all trades during his life, which included working at Wettsteins where he built the lighted tree on top of their building which was seen for many years after. He also had owned & operated American Drywall where his kids would find him walking on his stilts many a time with a drywall board perched on top of his head. His longest run and last passion was owning RAL Investments where he bought, worked on and sold cars and from which he retired from several years ago. 

On every Saturday night, Ralph would attend church at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, through any type of weather until he was no longer able to do so. Ralph was a Wheel of Fortune fan, rarely missing an episode and would usually always solve the puzzle first against whomever was sitting with him. Ralph loved watching his grandkids grow up and then also the great-grandkids as they came along. He was always asking how everyone was doing and always had a smile and a wave for all the grandkids when they visited. 

Ralph is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kathy; children: Debbie Bakewell and Diane (Steve) Weilandt; grandchildren: Christopher Greinke Bakewell, Justin (Savannah) Weilandt, Joey Weilandt, Miranda Friemel, Cameron Weilandt and Makayla Huntington; and 5 great-grandchildren: Bennett, Layla, Noelle and Roman Weilandt, and Ethan Friemel; sister, Jan Howes and brother, Jim (Joyce) Bakewell and sister-in-law, Bonnie Bakewell.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents: Joe and Luella; son: Steve, brothers: Larry, Ron, Bob and Ken; brother-in -law, Bill Howes; and sister-in-law, Colleen Bakewell.

Fly high Dad, go, go, go #60 – we will miss you forever and say hi to Steve for us, we love you!

The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:30 AM, Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 907 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, with a funeral service beginning at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.