Ralph Gordon Czerepinski, 84, of Midland, MI, died on July 12, 2025 at Candlestone Assisted Living.

He was born in Madison, Wisconsin on Sept. 24, 1940 to Henry and Ruth (Edwards) Czerepinski. Ralph attended Madison East High School before studying Chemistry at University of Wisconsin Madison, and remained a proud Badgers and Packers fan. He received his PhD in rocket fuel oxidizer chemistry from University of Washington in Seattle.  

Ralph met the love of his life, Donna Monteith, in the Chemistry building at UW Wisconsin. When they began dating, Donna firmly told Ralph they were not allowed to kiss in the Chemistry building, a rule which Ralph promptly disregarded. The two were married on September 14, 1963 and honeymooned in the car on the drive to Washington for Grad School. On the way, they stopped at a pizza & beer establishment which refused to serve them because Donna was not yet 21, even when they said, “…but we’re married!” Despite this initial hardship, they persevered. 

Ralph and Donna brought three children into the world in three different states. Much later they welcomed eleven grandchildren, and even later yet two great-granddaughters, and are awaiting a great-grandson.

Ralph worked as a Research Scientist for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, MI, working in polymer science until his retirement in 2001. In addition to his love of Chemistry, he loved mathematics, astronomy, geology, computers, and sci-fi. Ralph was an expert on local mushroom identification and enjoyed camping, owning at one point two VW vans, requiring his children to learn to drive on them. He spent many years as a part-owner of the Midland Computer Shoppe and enjoyed letting his computers run all night to calculate and visually display fractal mathematics equations. He also was very active in his church community, leading Lay Speaking courses and singing with the Chancel Choir at Aldersgate Methodist.

While his fight with Alzheimer's took many of those things away from him in his later years, it could not take his love for Jesus and his confidence in his eternal home with the Father.

Ralph was preceded in death by his son Scott Czerepinski, and is survived by his wife, Donna, his children Kelly (Daniel) Harman and Kim (Dale) Anderson, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025 at Aldersgate Church, 2206 Airfield Lane in Midland. His family will receive friends at the church on Monday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Aldersgate Church or the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter.