Howie Ramaley

Howie Ramaley, 48, of Maple Grove, had his life stolen by cancer on September 23, 2016. His monster was named Osteosarcoma and it was an aggressive and painful beast.

Howie was born to Mary (Kelly) and Howard Ramaley II on December 27, 1967. He was their pride and joy and took traits from them at an early age. Howie loved to fish like his dad and learned to cook, clean, sew, and be self-sufficient from his mom. He truly became the man of everyone’s dreams; men and women alike lined up to marry him.

The one to land him though was the love of his life, dawn (hirte). He married her, not once, but twice. Howie met dawn through the luck of geography as his family lived across the street from her grandparents. He knew from the start that she was his destiny. Their lives wound their own ways until 1991 when she moved near him and that childhood intuition became solid true love. Playing up their fun side they married on April Fool’s Day in 1995. In their 20th year of marriage they decided it was time for their alter egos to also marry and so on Halloween 2015, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible were also married. They completed their family in 2002 with the addition of their beloved son “little” Howie the 4th.

Howie was known by many names and abilities. He was a master at the game Balderdash because he was a fountain of information, some of which was accurate, and some that was not but sounded like it was. He could talk at length about most anything and so earned the nickname “The Clavinator” after Cliff Clavin on Cheers. He was famous for giant “Howie Fires” at Timberline Campground and earned the moniker Chippy, short for Chippendale, due to his unique way of putting logs on the fire. His wife often referred to him as “Nosy Rosy” up there because he always knew what was going on which was perfect since he was always the first to lend a hand.

Being helpful is perhaps his most memorable trait. He was always the first one to jump in and help anyone; even if he didn’t know you. Because of that he was the Go To Guy for almost anything. At work he was the one sent to work on difficult cars or with difficult customers, his map skills were better than any TomTom, he could tow any size trailer or camper making it look easy, he reveled in playing pranks at the campground, and his campsite was always decorated over the top for Halloween which gave everyone much pleasure.

He longed for a professional kitchen at home, even though without it he made the BEST chocolate chip cookies, delicious chili and cornbread, and was always requested to make Bailey’s Cake for events. He loved to orchestrate parties and things behind the scenes, always completing the tiny details that you might not have even known needed to be done. You may have known you were exposed to a bit of this magic, or it may have been done so cleverly that you haven't realized it yet, and may never. That was the beauty of this talent.

He loved to travel with his favorite destinations being water related. He went on several cruises, most including his favorite stop at St. Thomas for snorkeling. His passion was fishing and he took many trips locally for this as well as to Canada and Mexico. He was able to accomplish a dream of salmon fishing in Alaska. He would have loved to own a 1967 Mustang coupe.

He went through life with ease making even difficult tasks seem effortless including taking on cancer. When it struck he took it in stride, always putting a positive spin on every skirmish, sometimes embellishing his history to include a shark attack as the reason for his amputation. His prosthetic leg was a never ending source of intrigue for the kids at Little Howie’s school where he was the Michael Phelps of volunteering. He would gladly entertain them, or anyone, with information about it and his condition.

Above all, his greatest joy was taking care of his family and being an extraordinary dad to his namesake son. He always went above and beyond to make sure they were happy and cared for. He loved teaching Little Howie to fish, shoot, and ride ATVs, and encouraged him in every endeavor. He was a very loving and compassionate husband, father, son, brother, and friend who will be greatly missed. He was his wife’s best friend leaving a void that will never be filled.

He was welcomed into Heaven by his father Howard Ramaley II, grandparents Howard Sr and Laraine Ramaley and Coleman and Pauline Kelly, and Uncles Jim and George. Remaining earthbound will be his beloved wife, dawn, cherished son Howie, mother Mary (“Kelly”) Ramaley, siblings Dave (Amy) Ramaley and Christy Schultz, parents in law Joe and Kathy Hirte, siblings in law Chris Hirte and Beth Hirte, nephews Merrick and Nick, nieces Sydney and Thea, Godmother Kathy (Jerry) Priess, aunts and uncles Tom Kelly, Billy (Rainy) Kelly, Coleman (Josie) Kelly, Jim (Lori) Kelly, Michelle Stryker (John), Patty (Jeff) Keehl , Joan Hurley (Mike), Claudia Johnson, many cousins, and his extensive network of family and friends and friends that are family.

Please join his family in celebrating his life on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. Bring a photo or tell a story if you are able. Funeral service 6pm at Evans Nordby Funeral Home, 34 Second St. NE, Osseo, with visitation starting at 4pm at the Funeral Home. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers. Appetizers and a toast to Howie will follow at Axel’s Tavern 130 Railway St W, Loretto.