Ralph J. Goetz

Ralph J. Goetz, age 91, of Tomahawk, WI, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, under the care of Aspirus Hospice, at Riverview Health Services in Tomahawk. Ralph was born in Milwaukee, WI, on July 5, 1934, to the late John E. and Lucille C. (Kruczynski) Goetz. He was married to the love of his life, Nancy Koss, on September 11, 1954, in Milwaukee.
Ralph grew up in the city and went to the Boys Technical School in Milwaukee. Soon after, he joined the Air Force Reserve and after serving, he opened and ran a successful auto body shop business with his father in Saint Francis, WI. Ralph enjoyed auto racing and was on the fire and rescue crew on the North turn of the Milwaukee mile. He was also involved in midget car racing throughout his life and raced in Wisconsin and California for many years. Another one of his hobbies was racing Homing pigeons along with his son, John. A true craftsman, Ralph and John also enjoyed restoring old classic cars. He loved his Doberman dogs and owned many throughout his life. Ralph and Nancy raised four children and enjoyed vacationing "Up North" in Tomahawk until 1978 when they moved to Garden Grove, CA, where they lived until 1995. They came back to Wisconsin and built a house in Tomahawk to enjoy retirement. They were faithful members of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his sons, John (Visenta De la torre) Goetz, of Tomahawk, and Rob (Dawn Hubrich) Goetz, of Garden Grove, CA; his daughters, Debra Keelan, of Milwaukee, and Judie Goetz, of Tomahawk; and his sister, Sylvia Laczniak, of Tryon, NC. He is further survived by his grandchildren, Robert and Karyn Keelan, of New Berlin, WI, Natalee Lamantia (Michael Balistreri), of Greenfield, WI, Ryan and Nicole Keelan, of Muskego, WI, Annette and Derek Steltenpohl, of Tomahawk, Carie and Viet Nguyen, of Huntington Beach, CA, Tiffani and Tony Ra, of Nampa, ID, and Angela and Daniel Clavel, of Franklin, WI; his 19 great-grandchildren, Sydney Keelan, Anthony Lamantia, Tyler Lamantia, Dylan Keelan, Makenzie Keelan, Brandon Keelan, Micah Arnott, Davin Steltenpohl, Olivia Steltenpohl, Leah Nguyen, Zach Nguyen, Tyler Ra, Miranda Ra, Kayla Goetz, Anthony (Victoria Flanagan) Goetz, Ethan Gomez, Jax Clavel, Kobe Clavel, and Lucy Clavel; and his great-great grandchild, Cooper Goetz; in addition to his Boxer, Teena, who was his companion for the last four years. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lucille; his wife, Nancy; and his son-in-law, Robert Keelan, Jr.; in addition to uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
The family would like to thank the Riverview Health Services staff and Aspirus Hospice for the care they provided.
Funeral services will take place in the spring of 2026 and announced at that time. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery. Generations Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.