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Ralph F. Mach M.D.Ralph F. Mach M.D. died at his home Saturday, May 18, 2002 at the age of 80 years. A mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, May 21 at Immaculate Conception Cath-olic Church in Pine City for Dr. Ralph Mach. The Reverend Michael J. Lyons celebrated the Mass. Maryknoll priests also concelebrated Mass with Fr. Lyons. Music was provided by Cindy Novy, Joanne and Kevin Cahill and Tina and Paul Bacigalupi. Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery of Pine City. Casket bearers were grandchildren: Eric Kotek, Alison Mach, Brian Mach, David Mach, Megan Mattson, and Gretchen Mach. Honorary Casketbearers were: Bob Carlson, Bob Leibel, Ray Arimond, John Kozisek, Bill Kessler, and Bill Lones. Military honors at the graveside were by the Minnesota National Guard of Pine City and Karl Greden as buglar. Ralph Franklin Mach M.D. was born May 28, 1921 in New Prague, Minnesota to Charles W. and Hildegard (Rosendahl) Mach. He attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in New Prague, graduated from New Prague High School, the College of St. Thomas with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1941 and from the U of Minnesota Medical School in 1945. While in Medical school, Dr. Mach was inducted into the U.S. Navy where he served several years until his discharge. Later on he was also called to serve during the Korean War for two years as Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. On June 23, 1945, Dr. Mach was married to Geraldine Faricy in Grand Rapids, Minn. They made their home in Foley, Minn. where he practiced medicine for two years, then to Rush City for five years, then to Pine City where he served the community until his retirement in 1988. During this time Dr. Mach had his own clinic until 1979 at which time he joined the Pine City Area Clinic until his retirement. Dr. Mach also served as Medical Director at Lakeside Nursing Home and Pine County Medical Examiner for many years. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and served there as Lector and Eucharistic Minister. He also helped with the Health Badge in Boy Scouts for many years. He was an avid fisherman and small game hunter spending much of that time with his sons and grandsons. His greatest joy was being with his children and grandchildren. He also walked his golden retrievers daily for many years. He has a 1pm tee off time at the Pine City golf course with many of his dear friends for many years before ill health forced his confinement at home where he was under hospice care for 14 months. He is survived by his wife: Gerri, sons Byron (Butch) and his wife Nancy of Pine City, Tom and his wife Kathy of Little Falls, Pat and his wife Lisa of Bloomington, Chris and his wife Cheryl of Shorewood, daughters: Margle and her husband Leslie Kotek of Champlin, Katy and her husband Al Mattson of Maple Grove, Liz Mach of Maryknoll Mission in Tanzania, Africa, and Mary and her husband Michael Long of St. Paul. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, a sister Mary (John) Fitzgerald of New Prague. Dr. Mach was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Ruth and her husband Jerry Svoboda. ©ECM Post Review |