KOFOED, REVEREND RALPH K. Rev. Ralph K., who served over 50 years as a Methodist Minister, passed away on March 11, 2004 in San Diego, California. He was 94 years old. A native of Pontiac, Illinois he had a legacy of service to others. Ralph received his preacher ' s license at age 16 and served 22 churches in Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and California during his career. In 1930 Ralph graduated from Northwestern University and received his master of Divinity from Garret Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1933. Active in the Ecumenical movement, Ralph helped develop the Council of Churches in Wisconsin and Illinois and was a member of the Board of Directors of National Council of Churches in Wisconsin and Arizona. Other accomplishments include his active participation in Rural Church Development, the Wesley Foundation, which supported and serviced local college students in the state of Wisconsin, ``Keenagers ' ' which advocated the issues and concerns of senior citizens in California and Arizona, and was a supporter of Native American rights. Ralph was elected to the General Conference of the Methodist Church in 1948 and was honored for his lifetime achievements in ``Who ' s Who of Methodism ' ' and ``Who ' s Who in the State of California ' ' . Additionally, he was involved in numerous community service groups, including 34 years as a Kiwanis member. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 50 years, Jeanne Ransom Kofoed, and survived by two sisters, Lenora and Mabel; five children, Ann, Kathryn, Nancy, Margaret and Peter, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please send your donations to the San Diego Zoo, in memory of Ralph Kofoed. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 26, 2004 at 2:00pm at the San Carlos Methodist Church in San Diego.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com
Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 3/21/2004. (volunteer submission)