Ralph Edgar Motter Jr.

Ralph E. Motter Jr. (84) passed away on Monday, November 27th. He and his wife Joy P. (Krueger) lived in Harlan, Indiana since 1967 where they raised their family. Ralph was active in coaching his boys in Little League, working on the Harlan Park Board, and spending time with his family. He was born on September 22, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan. Upon graduation from Montpelier, Ohio High School in 1957, he entered the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1961 with a Good Conduct Medal. Returning to the tri-state area, he started his career at International Harvester where he retired in 2004 after 42 years of service in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Springfield, Ohio. Ralph and Joy were married on June 24, 1967, in Plymouth, Indiana. They have three sons; Brian (Marcia) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Brett (Krista) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Sean (Amy) of Churubusco, Indiana. They have nine grandchildren: Paul, Megan, Marc, Jenna (Evan), Cade, Abigail, Mackenzie, Nicholas and Callen. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Margaret Woods, his brother Jerry Motter, and his sister Joan Crow. He is survived by those listed above and a sister-in-law Marge Motter, and siblings Kevin Motter, Kelly Nichols, Katy Hook, and Margot Russ. A memorial gathering will be Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church on State Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials be made to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.