HAVEN RALPH CHERRY, age 83, of Lake Station, passed away Monday, July 13, 2015. He was born in Portage on February 27, 1932 to the late Barton and Goldie (nee Blake) Cherry. Ralph retired from the Portage Post Office and had also worked as a Building Inspector in Lake Station. He coached Lake Station Little League for 37 years and took the senior team to the World Series in 1973. Ralph was a veteran of the US Air Force and was a member of the American Legion Post #100 and the VFW Post #9323 both in Lake Station. He served as past Commander of VFW Post #9323 and was also past Jr. Vice Commander of VFW District #1. He was a former member and past Commander of American Legion Post #454 in New Chicago. Ralph will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Sandra J. (nee Thorsen); 3 daughters, Patricha (Carlos) Garza of Mission, TX, Cathrine (Floyd) Lacewell of Ajo, AZ, and Carol (Conrad, Jr.) Prukop of Mission, TX; 3 sons, John L. Cherry of Naples, FL, Thomas M. Cherry and Joel A. (Kimberly) Cherry all of Portage; 23 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and brother, Lee (Billie) Cherry of San Lorenzo, CA

He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Kissinger; son, Randall Cherry; brothers, Morris, Robert and Forrest Cherry.

A funeral service for Ralph will be Friday, July 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Brady Chapel, 3781 Central Ave., Lake Station, with Rev. Scott Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Blake Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 2-8 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Brady Chapel, (219) 962-1606 or go online to extend condolences at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.