Ralph Douglas Van Meter made his journey to his forever home on April 30, 2024.

Ralph was born on February 19, 1932 in Idaville, Indiana to Merle and Mildred Van Meter. He attended school, and as the oldest of five children, worked the family farm there until they moved to a farm in Cumberland, WI. In March of 1952 he was drafted into the United States Army. After basic training at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, IN; Ralph served with the Military Police at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.

While there, he met Arlene Terry Eno who worked at the local dry cleaners. Love came quickly and they were married in Bel Aire, Maryland on April 25, 1954. Two friends, and the Methodist minister, witnessed their marriage.

Following his discharge from the Army in December 1954, they returned to Wisconsin and lived for a short time in a small cottage located on the Cumberland farm. Ralph worked at a Citgo gas station, but moved to Shell Lake when his father purchased the Skelly gas station there. He and his brother-in-law Ron, worked the station until other opportunities “fell into place”. Ralph was approached by a representative of the Shell Lake City Council because Shell Lake was in need of a Police Chief. With his Army experience and a “boxful of stuff” provided by the city, he began a lifelong career of service and great devotion to the city and its people.

In 1987, Ralph was recognized as Shell Lake’s Citizen of the Year. He retired from his position as Police Chief in 1985, but went on to serve Washburn County as a transport officer until July 2012. After 52 years of law enforcement, he retired to enjoy life with the family he loved.

In order to provide for his wife and five daughters in the way he and Arlene saw fit, Ralph had a number of side jobs over the years. The Van Meter family were butchers by trade. Ralph traveled to many area farms with his scaffold and other equipment in tow, ready to butcher a pig or cow.

He was also very loyal to Jack and Grace Blume (Blume Funeral Home), John and Peg Pockat (Pockat Funeral Home), and willingly served as their “right hand man”.

When he wasn't hunting down Shell Lake hoodlums who were tearing around town, Ralph took his love of hunting to the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting deer, elk and pheasant. He surely passed his love of hunting down to several of his grandsons and even great-grandsons!

Ralph was a loving husband to Arlene for 68 years. He was welcomed into his forever home by Jesus. He was looking forward to an amazing reunion with Arlene, his infant son Michael, his greatly loved daughter Nancy Furchtenicht, his great-granddaughter Rosalie Johnson and his brother, Don Van Meter.

He is survived by his daughters: Susan (Tooker) Weathers, Karen (Rob) Taylor, Laurie (Tim) Studt, Mary (Kyler) Gustafson, son-in-law Russ Furchtenicht; sisters: Dorothy (Ron) Woodward, Carol (Bob) Nesbit; brother Steve (Sue) Van Meter; sister-in-law Audrey Baker; 15 grandchildren; 33 and counting…, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his generous life will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 11th at the Shell Lake United Methodist Church; with a visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. A luncheon will be served following the service. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Cumberland, WI at a later date.

The family was assisted by: Skinner Funeral Home and left hand man, John Pockat.

Last Update: May 07, 2024 12:28 pm CDT