Ralph Fortman, age 83, of Coldwater, Ohio, died on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, Ohio. He was born December 11, 1928 in St. Joseph, Ohio to the late Henry and Terese (Ohlinger) Fortman. On April 12, 1958 he married Phyllis (Jacquay) in St. Vincent de Paul Church, Ft. Wayne, IN and she survives in Coldwater, Ohio. Ralph is also survived by seven children, Karen Hans of Findlay, Steve & Mary Fortman of Montezuma, Joyce & Mike Deiser of Ft. Wayne, IN, John & Rebecca Fortman of Maria Stein, Michele Schlater of Portland, IN, Andrew & Sheryl Fortman of Kettering and Daniel & Rachelle Fortman of Miamisburg, 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, two sisters Mary & Henry Kampf of Ft. Wayne, IN and Bernadette & Paul Farr of Sturgis, KY and a brother James & Dolores Fortman of Ft. Recovery. He is preceded in death by a son Mark Fortman, two sisters Rosalie Kampf and Noreen & Jim Green and a brother Dennis Fortman. He was a veteran of the US Army serving during the Korean War. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, with Fr. Richard Walling, officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater Ohio. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home-Coldwater on Tuesday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Memorials may be directed to Coldwater Public Library. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
