Ralph Cecil Dempsay

Ralph Cecil Dempsay, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 12, 1936, to Alpha and Elmer Dempsay in Washington County, Illinois. Ralph was one of seven siblings, raised in a rural setting where he developed his enduring love for family, faith, and the great outdoors.
Ralph proudly served his country in the US Army from 1958 to 1962. When briefly stationed in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, he met the love of his life, Diane Dempsay. They were married on September 3, 1959, and shared 65 years of devoted companionship.
After his military service, Ralph embarked on a successful career, working with esteemed companies such as Caterpillar, IBM, Kodak, and Danka Office Imaging. His unwavering work ethic and diverse skill set were admired by colleagues and loved ones alike.
Throughout his life, Ralph found joy in various passions, including baseball, camping, hunting, fishing, and golf. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and cherished time spent in nature with his family and friends.
Ralph was a man of deep faith, dedicated to his Catholic beliefs. His commitment to God and family served as a guiding light through both joyous and challenging times. He imparted valuable lessons of honesty, humility, compassion, and integrity to his children and grandchildren, leaving a lasting legacy of love and strength.
In his final days, Ralph was surrounded by the love and care of his devoted family, including his wife, Diane, his children Gina, Nicole, and Jason, his grandchildren, and great-grandchild. His memory will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A funeral service was held to honor Ralph's life in Arizona and another will be held in Illinois on June 10, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in memory of Ralph's compassionate spirit. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Ralph Cecil Dempsay will be deeply missed, but forever remembered for his unwavering love, devotion, and kindness. May he rest in eternal peace.
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
3952 Turner Ave.
Plano, IL 60545
630-552-3022