Ralph LaVigne

Ralph LaVigne, age 67, took his last breath on July 25, 2026 in Country Club Hills, Illinois with his devoted partner Joan, his brother Terry, and his sons Michael & Robert by his side. Bladder cancer took this unyielding and stalwart man after nine long years of fighting.

Ralph, the oldest of five children, was born in Augsburg, Germany on December 29, 1958 to his father Alan and his mother Rita. Ralph's legacy includes the undeniable influence he had on his younger siblings, his passion for the sciences (especially astronomy), his engineering/mechanical skills, and his two fine sons.

Stories of Ralph's childhood paint a picture of service and adaptability. Ralph naturally took on the role of protector and mentor to his younger siblings, often helping out in a variety of ways. Whether it be turning a blind eye to them stealing “Softi” candies from his cabinet or making up games for he and Karen to play, Ralph was a great brother to all of his siblings

During Ralph’s adolescent years, he deeply enjoyed running the high hurdles (where he earned many medals as a result of his competitive spirit). He graduated from Oak Forest High School where he was also crowned “Turnabout King” his senior year. He always had a burning interest in cars and owned a 1972 green grand Torino as his prized possession. He would later attend Wyoming Tech in 1978 where he would earn a degree as a “Doctor of Motors” in the early 80s.

As an adult, Ralph co-owned a Shell gas station with his brother Terry (located across the street from Stagg High School) where he worked tirelessly as an auto-mechanic. He did this for a number of years before eventually selling the station and taking on a role as a quality liaison technician at ZF Lemforder. Despite these jobs being exhausting, Ralph would always make time for his sons on the weekends, partaking in endless outings over the years to places such as the Addler Planetarium, a variety of sporting events, annual trips to Pentwater, Michigan, and local outings to places like Apollo Park or the nearby field for a model rocket launch.

Ralph's favorite pastimes included gardening, cooking (especially with his partner Joan using fresh produce from their garden), playing video games with his sons Michael & Robert (especially Mario as young boys and Final Fantasy 11 as teenagers), constructing model rockets, automotives, rock and music (especially Led Zeppelin and Rush) sports (especially watching the Chicago Bears) and small engineering projects such as making custom design lamps.

Ralph was preceded in death by his father , Alan Barfknecht. He is survived by his parents, Terry and Rita LaVigne, by his life partner , Joan Plecki, his son, Michael LaVigne (wife, Colleen and their children, Braden and Aiden LaVigne ) and son, Robert LaVigne (wife, Catherine and their children, Asher and Sophie LaVigne). Ralph is also survived by his siblings - Karen Franklin, Terry LaVigne Jr., Tamara Scott (Patrick), Tanya LaVigne-Corder and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Although the original flame of Ralph's life has now extinguished, the embers left behind continue to burn brightly in the hearts of those who knew him best. As we continue our journey through life, we carry the absolute best of Ralph with us in our hearts and will continue to honor his life through our actions.

We love you Ralph -

“Tomorrow comes” 

Aftercare arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL