Ralph D. Janski, 78
Sartell
June 23, 1944 – Oct. 17, 2022
Ralph Delmer Janski, 78, of Sartell, died peacefully on Oct. 17 at the St. Cloud VA 51-1.
His funeral was held Oct. 23 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids. Burial was Oct. 24 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls.
Janski was born June 23, 1944 in Rice, Minn. to Alphonse and Evelyn (Borash) Janski. He was the third of eight children. Janski attended Rice and Royalton Elementary and High School. Though school was never his strong suit, he worked hard, got his GED and was proud of it. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of E-4 from 1962-1965. He was stationed in Missouri, Kentucky and Hawaii. While on leave, he married his high school sweetheart Linda Welters on Sept. 7, 1964 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton. They then returned to live in Hawaii until he finished out his service. Janski attended Dunwoody for two years and then started his working career at Thiele Engineer, Cherry Berrill, and Granite City Construction. He then started plumbing and owned and operated Sartell Plumbing and Home Center. He then changed his career and went to work at the Sartell Golf Course as a groundskeeper, and went on and became part owner of both Oak Hill and Eagles Landing golf courses until retirement.
Janski built two homes and lived in a total of four homes in the Kutzman Addition. In 1987, he started decorating with Christmas lights and every year he and his buddy Nick would see who would put up the most. He was up to 30,000 lights and plastic figurines and after Christmas would go and get more. He won the local light display contest for five years, then stopped so others could win. Janski had such fun taking his dad, Alphonse, and uncle, Lorenzo, to the casino and to St. Anna for chicken, they were called “the three brothers.” He enjoyed spending time watching sports, especially the Vikings and Twins, and spending time with family and friends. Janski was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell, American Legion Post #277 of Sartell and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #622 of St. Cloud.
Survivors include the following: his wife of 58 years, Linda of Sartell; son, Virgil of Sacramento, Calif.; daughter, Shannon (Jesse) Hemmesch of Roscoe; grandson, Chad Janski of Corpus Christi, Texas; siblings: Robert (Ruth) Janski of Rice, Donald (Lorraine) Janski of Royalton, Jean Morgan of Little Falls, Ed (Mary Lou) Janski of Bowlus; sister-in-law, Carol (Greg) Cliff of Blue River, Wis.; brother-in-law, Mike Fluharty of Mandan, N.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, PFC Richard Janski, Vietnam; sisters, Doreen Harrington and Marlys Fluharty.
The family is especially grateful to all the staff at the St. Cloud VA in building 51-1, whose loving care made it possible for Janski to be at peace during his journey with dementia.
Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online at www.williamsdingmann.com.
