Ristow, founding member of St. Germaine Parish, dies at 96

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Ristow

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:29AM

Fifty years ago, the Rev. Walter Sheridan called on three men to help him form St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn.

One of them was John “Ray” Ristow, an Oak Lawn resident who would remain closely involved in the parish — serving as an usher, a lector, a Eucharistic minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Ristow died Monday at 96.

“Father Sheridan called three men. They formed what was called the troika,” said Mr. Ristow’s daughter, Rayna Murphy. “They met and did whatever was needed to form the parish. ... My dad was really a humble person, but he was a very hard worker.”

Mr. Ristow also was active in the parish’s St. Vincent DePaul Society and regularly assisted the needy. He received the Ozanam Award and the Rose of Germaine, acknowledging his outstanding contributions for many years with the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

“He’ll be sorely missed,” said Marion Krucek, religious education director at St. Germaine School. “... If you called Ray and needed help, he was there. He felt he was blessed in his own life.”

Mr. Ristow also was active in Oak Lawn, where he lived for 56 years, his daughter said. He worked with veterans, was a member of the Kiwanis Club and served on various village committees that made recommendations to the village board.

Mr. Ristow was born in Chicago’s Englewood community and was a graduate of Tilden High School.

He worked as a draftsman in the food industry, which included supervising the design, construction and equipment installation of two sausage manufacturing companies in Poland. He ended his career in 1978 as vice president of an engineering firm.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Ristow is survived by his wife Esther, son Randy, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Germaine, 9711 Kolin Ave. Burial is at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park. Donations can be made to St. Germaine’s Saint Vincent DePaul Society.