Escanaba, MI – Ralph K. Oja, age 88, former Ishpeming resident, currently of 4951 Whisper 18.8 Lane, Escanaba, passed away on Friday, January 1, 2016 at the OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba where he had been a patient since this past Wednesday.

Ralph was born in Ishpeming on December 30, 1927 the son of the late Saima (Toivonen) and John Oja. He was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1946. Following high school he worked as a surveyor for CCI prior to serving with the United States Army stateside during the Korean War. Upon his discharge from the service he entered MTU, receiving his bachelors degree in Mining Engineering in 1957. Ralph married the former Viola Merrila on June 29, 1957 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. They moved to Virginia, MN in 1957 where Ralph had worked for US Steel, returning to Ishpeming in 1962. While in Ishpeming Ralph was employed by the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. as a Mining Engineer working at the Pioneer Pellet Plant and the Republic Mine retiring in 1987.

Ralph was an associate member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming and a current member of the Christ the King Lutheran Church in Escanaba. He was a life member of the Ishpeming Elks, former member of the Wawonowin Country Club where he enjoyed golfing, and a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Ralph will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman, enjoying the winters skiing and snowshoeing, hunting camp and a good hot sauna. He enjoyed traveling and was a great experimenter.

Survivors include his wife Viola Oja of Escanaba; daughter Edie Shandonay of Appleton, WI and her special friend Todd Gisi; 2 grandchildren - Ethan and Adam Shandonay; step-brother Walter (Barbara) Nuorala of Ishpeming; niece Rae (Martin) Warner and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his father John Oja, mother Saima Nuorala, and three brothers George, Reino and Ernest Oja.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10am – 11am on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am on Tuesday at the Church with the Rev. Lauri O. Maki to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either Bethel Lutheran Church, Memorial Fund at 333 E. Ridge St., Ishpeming, MI 49849, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Memorial Fund, 1230 18th St N, Escanaba, MI 49829, or your local animal shelter.

Ralph's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .