Ralph Carpenter

Ralph E. Carpenter, age 62, of Faribault, died Thursday, October 6, 2011 following an extended illness.    Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault. Interment will be held at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park, Faribault.   Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to services.   Memorials may be directed to Faribault Area Hospice, River Bend Nature Center or Bethlehem Academy High School Scholarship Fund in memory of Ralph.   Ralph Edward Carpenter, the son of Ambrose and Stella Carpenter, was born on July 10, 1949. He attended Sacred Heart elementary school and graduated from Bethlehem Academy in 1967. After serving 4 years in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Faribault and worked with his father in the Carpenter family plumbing business as a master plumber. Ralph was employed at Crown Cork and Seal for the past 33 years. He retired in September 2011.   Ralph's faith was an important part of his life. He was a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church where he served as a sacristan at mass.   His lifelong passion for gardening led him to the Farmer's Market where he spent many hours talking with fellow gardeners and sharing the vegetables that he grew.   Ralph was an avid fisherman and joined his family on their annual fishing trips to northern Minnesota. He especially enjoyed fishing with his brother Fran and took his grandson Carter fishing for the first time this past summer. A most unique family tradition for the past 12 years was his "siblings only" weekend camping trip. The bonds that were made on these weekend trips were strong and brought the five of them even closer.   Ralph is survived by his wife Lois Wakefield of Faribault; son Brian (Heidi) Carpenter of Minneapolis; daughter, Angel (Jason) Justice of Angola, Indiana; daughter, Lindsey Pecore of Faribault; three grandsons; mother, Stella Carpenter of Faribault; sisters, Sharon (Dean) Bauer and Marian (Jim) Langeslag, both of Faribault: brothers, Fran (Jeanette) Carpenter and Ron (Sue) Carpenter, both of Faribault and by aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, especially his co-workers at Crown Cork and Seal and the second family circle he gained through Lois' sisters, brother, cousins and special nephew Dominic.   He was preceded in death by his father Ambrose Sr., brother Ambrose (Bob) Jr., Paternal grandparents Adelord and Mata Carpenter and maternal grandparents Frank and Rose Uhlir.   Ralph was so very grateful to all who supported, encouraged and loved him after his diagnosis of liver cancer the past March. His smile, kind heart and jovial laugh will always be remembered. He lived his life fully, and quietly left this life in courage, dignity and an abiding Faith.