1935-2012
Visitation: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 4 till 8 PM
Ballard– Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake, MN
Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, June 14, 2012 11 AM
Church of St. Michael, 16311 Duluth Ave SE, Prior Lake, MN
There will be visitation at the church 1 hour prior to visitation
Ralph’s Story
Ralph Sylvester Borka was born on August 2, 1935 on the farm in Credit River to parents Henry and Mary (Kroyer) Borka and step father Alois Grommesch. He grew up in Credit River and later graduated from Lakeville high school.
Following high school he joined the army and was a member of the 82nd airborne division. After his military stint he went to work for Continental machines where he was employed for 31 years and soon after he worked at the Prior Lake PDQ for 17 years. Ralph was also a member of St. Peter and St. Michael Catholic Church choir.
Ralph loved to spend weekends on General Shields Lake in Faribault. This is where he loved to fish and eventually taught all of his grandsons to fish. He also loved to spend time tending to his garden and watching his flowers grow.
He loved to make bird houses, fix jig saw puzzles, and playing cards. Ralph moved to Creekside Commons with hundreds of puzzles, which he donated to the puzzle room. The puzzle room is where he spent most of his time with his puzzle gals.
At the age of 76 and a resident of Prior Lake, Ralph passed away peacefully in the afternoon hours of Thursday, June 7, 2012 at St. Gertrude’s Health Care Center in Shakopee.
Forever loved by his children, Randall (Paige Van Duyn) Borka of Prior Lake, Kerry (Ken) McCullum of Richmond, TX, Timothy Borka of Faribault, Tami (Tom) Armstrong of Carnation, Washington, Todd Borka of Lakeville; the mother of his children, Darlene (Segler) Borka of Prior Lake; grandchildren, John and Jennifer Simmons, Joshua Borka, Jacob McCullum, Derrick Borka, Cole and Cayden Sowards, Jackson Armstrong; sisters, Betty (Bob) Haugh of Prior Lake, Marcella Jackson of Lakeville; sister in law, Lorraine Borka of Prior Lake; many other loving relatives and friends.
Ralph is preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Borka; parents, Henry and Mary (Kroyer) Borka, step father, Alois Grommesch; brothers, Norbert Borka, Elroy (Joan) Borka, Leander Borka; sister Marie (Joe) Eischens; brother in law, Frank Jackson.
Ralph’s urn bearers will be Duane Borka, David Borka, Jim Haugh, Dennis Jackson, Lenny Eischens, Barb Kappers, Steve Kappers.
Visitation will be on Wednesday June 13, 2012 from 4-8 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the mass at church. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 11 a.m., at the Church of St. Michael, Prior Lake. Father Roger Hessian will officiate. Ralph will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake, with full military honors provided by the Prior Lake VFW post #6208 Volunteer Rifle Squad.
The Borka family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake.
