Ralph W. Cornell passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.

Ralph William Cornell was born April 27, 1938, to Fred and Harriet (Stair) Cornell in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

They lived in Barron County until 1940 when they moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1946, they moved to Altoona, Wisconsin and built a home there. Ralph attended schools in Eau Claire and Altoona and graduated from high school in 1957. Ralph worked at Consumers Co-op in Eau Claire, Wisconsin during high school and college.

Ralph was an active member of the Boy Scouts and the Boy Scout Band. In the Boy Scouts, he earned the Eagle Scout and God and Country awards. He served on staff at Camp Phillips in 1955. He joined the Army National Guard in high school and served active duty in 1958 during the Colfax tornado and served 1961-1962 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Ralph was a cook and baker in the military, and he left the National Guard as Staff Sergeant.

After returning from Fort Lewis, Washington, he married Carol Jeanne Plummer on January 26, 1963, at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Together they had two daughters, Jeanne Marie Cornell and Suzanne Michelle Cornell. Ralph apprenticed as a baker at the Co-op in Eau Claire and worked to a journeyman status. He later worked for Randall Foods on London Road in Eau Claire, WI. While there, he achieved a Certified Master Baker Certificate. In 1994, Ralph and Carol moved to Hayward, Wisconsin where he managed all bakery operations for Marketplace Foods. He semi-retired at the age of 63 and continued to fill in part-time as needed.

Ralph is survived by his two daughters, Jeanne Cornell and Suzanne (Tim) Jensen, both of Appleton, WI; one brother-in-law, Ray Plummer of Las Vegas, NV; and two nieces, Stephanie Wallace and Christina Plummer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Carol.

A committal service will be held for Ralph at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 22, 2024, at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Spooner, WI. Military honors will be accorded by the Wisconsin Military Funeral Honors Program.

Last Update: Jan 18, 2024 1:19 pm CST