Ralph Thomas Vizina
Ralph Thomas Vizina, 50, of Afton, died at home unexpectedly Saturday, September 25, 2021. Born in Cheboygan October 21, 1970, Ralph was the son of Dale and Margo (Tober) Vizina. He grew up in Afton and graduated from Inland Lakes High School in 1989.
A lifelong resident of northern Michigan, Ralph worked operating equipment for Sidell Forest Products for many years and later worked as a boat mechanic for Indian River Marina. Passionate about boat racing, he was a member of the Top O’ Michigan Outboard Racing Club. After all, outboard racing was a tradition in Ralph’s family starting with Ralph’s father who passed on his love of the sport to Ralph. A racer and a mechanic, Ralph shared his passion for boat racing with his daughter, Sheldon. He taught her to race and they spent many hours together working on their race boat.
Ralph had a great love of the outdoors; he enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and going to the family cabin. He loved snowmobiling and driving tractors. A member of the Michigan Flywheelers Association, tractors held a special place in Ralph’s heart. He loved tilling and planting fields, going to tractor pulls with his dad and Sheldon, and restoring his old John Deere. An avid woodcutter, Ralph had enough firewood to last several winters. He also liked running the sawmill with his dad, which they fondly named “Whiz Viz.” He had a robust appetite for good food including ice cream straight from the carton, hot wings with a cold beer, and Tonya’s no bake cookies.
Quite a conversationalist, Ralph was the kind of person whose short visit would last two or three hours He was never at a loss for words and always had a tall tale to share. Some would say he had a line of “BS” a mile long, but either way, Ralph was one of a kind, a gifted storyteller and a good friend. He was genuine, with a heart of gold, and a little bit of a stubborn streak. Devoted to his family, Ralph was a loving father and a devoted son and brother. He loved spending time with Sheldon and was a caregiver to his father.&nb
Surviving Ralph is his daughter, Sheldon Vizina of Indian River/Afton; stepson, Laurel Tucker of Indian River; father, Dale Vizina of Afton; sisters, Tina (Larry) Boughner of Millersburg, Joan (Glenn) Young of Alabama and Debra (Brian) Greenacre of Manistee; as well as his nieces and nephews, Brandon Boughner of Tower, Ashlee Golden of Elkhart, Indiana, Heather Rocha of Charlotte, North Carolina, Amber Sloan of Germany and Jill Young of Columbia, South Carolina. Ralph was preceded in death by his mother, Margo Vizina; and a nephew, Raymond Wiggs III.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Tower Hall Monday, October 4, where Ralph’s family will receive friends from 3 until 7 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy please consider a donation in memory of Ralph to his family to help with final expenses. Cremation arrangements were in care of Chagnon Funeral Home. Donations can be made to Sheldon Vizina at Awakon Federal Credit Union.