Mass of Christian Burial for 67-year-old Ralph Zwaschka of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, in St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Comfrey, Minnesota. The church is located at 218 Field Street North.
Interment will be in the church cemetery, located north of Comfrey on Highway #258.
Visitation will be on Monday, January 25, 2016, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home-Sleepy Eye Chapel, located at 301 3rd Avenue S. W. A second visitation will be held at the church the day of the funeral mass from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Sturm Funeral Home-Sleepy Eye Chapel, is handling the funeral arrangements.
Ralph Zwaschka passed away in his home in Sleepy Eye on Saturday, January 16, 2016.
Ralph Jon Zwaschka was born on January 11, 1949 in Comfrey, the son of Alfred and Evone (Anderson) Zwaschka. He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School and graduated from Comfrey Public School in 1967. Ralph attended Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota and graduated with a degree in teaching.
He taught at St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye, Alternative Schools in Sleepy Eye and Hanska, Minnesota and Sleepy Eye Public School.
Ralph was the manager of the Sleepy Eye Indians since 1983, and piloted the team to the state tournament in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995 and 1996. His most memorable baseball moments include the Indians’ 1986 second-place finish to Jordan, and the 1995 third-place finish – a season he recalls as “unbelievable and remarkable.” The year 1998 marked Zwaschka’s 30th season in amateur baseball. He played for Stark in 1969 and 1970 and was player/manager for Leavenworth from 1971 through 1982. His love for sports led him to coach football and baseball.
Survivors include his sister, Ruth (David) Englin of Comfrey; nephew, Andrew Englin of Comfrey; his children, Jenna, Carli and Kayle; nephew, Garret (LeAnn) of Sioux Center, Iowa and their children, Taylor and Asher.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Evone Zwaschka.