Daniel Ralph Ramlow

A man of varied talents and interests, Daniel Ralph Ramlow did not stay in one place for long. Even though he never lived far from his little village of origin, he traveled broadly and appreciated seeing different parts of the world. He bravely hit restart on his career when many would have resigned themselves to stay put. In spite of that, he had one trait that remained constant throughout his life: his dedication to his family. World War II ended in 1945, but that did not mean that global unrest had ceased. The decision to divide the Korean peninsula between the Soviet Union and the United States would eventually become the wedge that would once again bring war to much of the world in 1950. By 1951, President Truman had already replaced General Douglas MacArthur as the commander of UN forces and there were two long, bloody years ahead before a truce was finally declared. The United States was also facing internal battles as the Civil Rights Movement was in its infancy. It was into this tumultuous, exciting world that Ralph and Janet (Barringer) Ramlow welcomed their precious baby Daniel Ralph on February 20, 1951, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ralph worked as the Kalamazoo County Weighmaster and Janet managed things at home, which Dan and his two brothers always kept interesting. They established their home in the village of Vicksburg in southwest Michigan and growing up in the area provided Dan with the typical opportunities for fun that only rural kids get to enjoy. He had the small-town privilege of attending Vicksburg’s one-room schoolhouse, sharing one teacher with students from the ages of kindergarten through eighth grade. The school taught more than just academic subjects; he also saw how a small group of students could learn together with the older children helping the younger ones and all of them playing together at recess. Dan graduated from Vicksburg schools in 1969. After graduation, Dan attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. His interest in American history which he carried throughout his lifetime contributed to his decision to study History and Religion. Always one to enjoy helping others, Dan found a job at a nursing home. He worked with a young woman named Tammy, and he liked talking with her. He had heard about a new movie coming out called Star Wars that was supposed to be good, so he asked her to go see it with him. After dating for about a year, they exchanged vows on July 15, 1978, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kalamazoo. It rained that day, and that is good luck for a marriage, a good day to start their new life together. The Ramlows lived in Kalamazoo for about ten years and then Dan moved his loved ones back to his hometown of Vicksburg. Dan worked for a local family business called Woolf Excavating and took pride in providing for his wife and two beloved children, John and Susie. There were other thoughts and goals growing in his mind during that time, however. When he turned forty, Dan made a bold move and went to nursing school. He worked diligently to achieve his goal of becoming an RN and served as a nurse, both in patient care, and then nursing informatics at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo until his retirement in 2018. Dan loved to travel and he had visited Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States extensively. He always looked for ways to make things special for his kids and he took them to Cedar Point when they were young. In his later years, he took them back there again, enjoying time with his grown-up kids, and grandchildren and relishing the memories rekindled by the visit. Dan had plenty of hobbies to keep him occupied in his free time and into his retirement. He was an avid American Flyer model railroad collector, and he also loved all things Star Trek. He dedicated a great deal of time to his painstaking restoration of a first-generation Monte Carlo, and he loved to tinker with the latest tech gadgets while jamming to his favorite band, The Ventures. He was known as the photographer of the family and enjoyed looking for just the right angle to capture just the right moment. He was an animal lover, especially dogs, and always had a beagle at his side. He would have given up any of those favorites, however, even his best beagle Harvey, if they had gotten in the way of his relationships with his precious grandchildren. Brady and Brooklynn were the light of his life and he looked forward to every visit, no matter how brief. He hoped for bright futures and joyful times for all of his precious family as they paved their own ways through life, and he leaves them with fond memories to lift them up in times of doubt. Daniel died peacefully with family by his side on Friday, November 15, 2019. He is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Tammy; his children: John (Lindsay) Ramlow and Susie (Andrew) Bauman; two grandchildren: Brady Bauman and Brooklynn Ramlow; two brothers: Donald (Mary) Ramlow and Robert (Lesley) Ramlow; mother and father-in-law, Jay and Mary Anne Smith; brother and sisters-in-law: Maude (Mike) Fortuna, Chris (Mary) Smith, Bonnie (Bill) Loveland, and Kelly (Mike) Hinga; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visit with his family and friends at a memorial gathering Monday, November 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at the McCowen & Secord Funeral Home - Rupert Durham Chapel, 409 S. Main St.,Vicksburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 19, at 11:00 p.m. at the St. Martin of Tours Church, 5855 E. W Ave., Vicksburg. Please visit Dan’s personal web page at www.mccowensecord.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guest registry, or make a memorial donation to St. Martin of Tours Church or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.