Back in the 19-teens, a young man named Ralph Ellis was born in L’Anse. He graduated from L’Anse High School and came to Marquette in the late 1930s to attend classes at the Northern Michigan College of Education.
While at Northern, Ralph played on the football team and joined a fraternity, and also fell in love with a local girl named Margaret Kepler. In fact, he was welcomed into the Kepler family with open arms.
In early 1941, Ralph was drafted into the US Navy and began flight training so he could become a test pilot. A few months later, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and World War II began.
Ralph continued his test pilot duties in California, but every chance he could, he came back to Marquette to visit Margaret and her family. The couple became engaged in late 1942, and in June of 1943, Margaret and her mother took the train out to the West Coast. On July 1st, Ralph and Margaret were married, and took off on a weeklong honeymoon to Yosemite.
After they came back, Ralph returned to duty as a test pilot, and Margaret and her mother prepared to come home. On that very day, July 9th, Ralph Ellis was killed when the plane in which he was flying crashed.
He and Margaret had been married 8 days.
Margaret and her mother, still in California, had Ralph’s body brought back to Marquette with them, and buried him in Park Cemetery with military honors. In fact, if you ever find Ralph’s headstone, you’ll see he’s right next to his in-laws, the Keplers.
For her part, Margaret was married—and widowed—twice more before passing away in 2001.
So while you’re enjoying the tail end of this three-day holiday weekend, just remember that there’s a reason you have it. And Ralph Ellis of L’Anse is just one of many examples why.
