Ralph Gissal Obituary, Death – Ralph Harry Gissal has passed away, Land O Lakes, FL – On May 16, 2023, Ralph Harry Gissal, 85 years old and a resident of Land O’ Lakes, Florida, passed away. Ralph Emil and Dorothy Louisa (Head) Gissal had their first child on August 14, 1937 in the town of Highland, Illinois. Ralph was named after his grandfather.
Ralph received his high school diploma from Alton in 1955 and, at that time, he was employed at Gissal’s Hardware, which was owned and operated by his father. After completing his high school education, he joined the United States Army Reserves (Battery A, 470th Field Artillery Battalion), where he remained active from 1956 to 1963. He was honorably discharged in 1963.
The Sharpshooter Award was given to Ralph while he was serving in the military. After that, he joined the reserves and continued his education by enrolling in business classes at Shurtleff College, which he eventually graduated from. After that, he began working at Metropolitan Life. After that, he spent 18 years working for The Hershey Chocolate Company, and then he spent another 18 years working for Lykes Pasco, Canadian Division, before finally retiring in the year 2002.
Ralph first met Jackie Tonsor in 1958, and two years later, in 1960, the couple wed. Ralph and Jackie went on to have four children, Terri Gissal, Toni Swoboda (Jack), Brenda Gissal and John Gissal (Chrissy McDaniel); four grandchildren, Ryan Markley, Cody Swoboda (Brittany), Leanne Markley (Kyle Southwick), Kyle Swoboda (Amy McClure); and two great-grandsons, Gavin and Elias Swoboda.
