Ralph “Lefty” Templeman

We celebrate the life of Ann and Tom’s dad, the esteemed Ralph Arthur “Lefty” Templeman.

Ralph was born on February 12, 1935, to Ralph and Loretta (Dautermann) Templeman. He graduated from North Division High School in Milwaukee in 1953, and married his sweetheart, Janet Pautsch, in 1958 in Milwaukee. They made a home in Wauwatosa in 1960, and lived in the same house on 72nd Street until 2017.

There may have been equally good people, but none better. He was a gentleman, a family man, a lover of good beer and chocolate-covered cherries (not together), and was a passionate but forgiving fan of Marquette basketball, the Badgers, Packers, Bucks, and his beloved Brewers, who he’d often watch play one night, and then re-watch the next morning.

He was an excellent athlete (Go, North Division!), a good griller, a tremendous listener, and the most non-judgmental person you could know. He loved to play golf — nine holes, walking preferably — and reading newspapers. He excelled at cards, enjoyed fishing, and helped those in need through blood donation and numerous volunteer activities. He was a giving husband, a tremendous friend and pet lover, a caring and patient father and grandfather, and, in this last year, great-grandfather. (And also a top-shelf father-in-law)! He was a guy you liked the very first second of the very first minute you met him, and that fondness grew exponentially from there.

His friends will tell you that he always had time to talk – and he rarely talked about himself. He’d chat about you and your world and your life and at times, you’d almost forget to ask him how he was doing. He was not a complainer, or a whiner. If something needed to be done, he’d do it. He had no real expectation of others, and wasn’t really one to ask for help. In fact, you could be sitting next to the fridge and ask him for a bottle of water, and he’d get up from the couch, walk over, reach around you, get it for you, hand it to you, and never expect a thank-you. If he could do it, he’d do it.

He was a good citizen, a rules-follower, patriotic, consistent voter, and a lover of the annual 4th of July parade in Wauwatosa, for which he’d put out chairs for the family the night before, and always have a perfect spot.

Ralph treasured family above everything. His loved ones will always cherish his kindness, his listening skills, and his can-do attitude.

We’ll miss his good nature and his kindness, and are glad that many of his best qualities passed on to Ann & Tom, his seven grandkids, two greats, and those still to come.

RIP, Pops.