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The Memorial Candle Program has been designed to help offset the costs associated with the hosting this Tribute Website in perpetuity. Through the lighting of a memorial candle, your thoughtful gesture will be recorded in the Book of Memories and the proceeds will go directly towards helping ensure that the family and friends of Ralph Quere can continue to memorialize, re-visit, interact with each other and enhance this tribute for future generations.

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Paul Hill

Ralph was friend, mentor, father figure, racquetball partner, co-scholar, and dialogue partner to and with me ever since we met in 1973. I was changing the oil on my car in the Wartburg parking lot and this skinny, bald guy walked up to me and said, “Hi, I’m Ralph.” Little did I know then that my life had just been impacted forever. In my writing and speaking career I often spoke of the power of “Triple A Adults” in the lives of young people. Triple A adults are AUTHENTIC, AVAILABLE, and AFFIRMING. Ralph was the template for that bit of scholarly teaching. I use to say of him: “his hips and his lips go in the same direction.” What he said he did and what he did he said. There was a consistency of faithfulness, moral life, scholarly insight, friendship, and behavior that is rare. I have literally hundreds of stories and memories rushing through my head, but I’ll share only one. About five months after Cindy passed away I was working with a group of senior high students at Wartburg. It was a summer outreach program to potential seminarians. Ralph was hanging out and supporting the effort. I asked him whether he would talk to the kids in the chapel about his faith and journey in light of Cindy’s passing. It would not be easy for him. He said he would. So imagine this scene…a group of high school kids full of attitude and energy sitting in a chapel at a seminary listening to a bald, skinny Reformation professor wearing a plaid shirt. I know it sounds like a recipe for “uncool” and “awkward”. But the opposite took place. Those kids were absolutely fixed and spellbound by him. His authentic witness, affirming style, and willingness to be available in his broken humanity held them motionless. We all knew we were on Holy Ground at that moment. Those kids heard the Good News of God’s love in Jesus in a way they had never imagined possible. I see that moment so clearly in my mind and will treasure it forever. Last night I was lying in bed recalling all my Ralph Quere moments. And the image I fell asleep holding is this one. Somewhere, somehow Ralph and Jan are sitting with Cindy and holding Johnny and Davey in their arms. They are all at peace and together. That is my hope.
Friday March 23, 2018 at 1:52 pm
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