Ralph George Brockhaus

Ralph George Brockhaus

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of Ralph George Brockhaus on February 25th ,2025, leaving behind his devoted wife, Carol, with whom he shared his final moments, at the age of 79. Ralph was a man of integrity and kindness, his easy going and lighthearted personality was endearing and made those around him feel comfortable. He felt at home in nature and truly loved animals, who seemed to gravitate to him. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth and compassion, as he walked through life with a gentle strength, and left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him.

While he was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ralph spent most of his life in South Florida and St. Lucie County. He graduated from Pompano Beach High School in 1963. Ralph entered the United States Airforce in 1971 and was a veteran serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Ralph had a fulfilling career and was an expert tower crane operator, working throughout Florida. He was well-versed with all types of machinery and could maneuver any crane on-site. Ralph was always in high demand, working on the construction of such projects as the Palm Beach International Airport and later assisting with safety oversight and crane operation for the construction of Florida Power & Light’s St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. He was a long-time member of the International Union of Operating Engineers 487

Ralph had a number of hobbies. He was mechanically inclined and truly loved airplanes and flying. He built a plane, a Pitts Special which is still flying today nearly 50 years later. In his retirement Ralph enjoyed building and flying model airplanes with friends and was a member of Sundancers RC flying club in Port St. Lucie.

Ralph loved the outdoors and spent as much time as he could outside. He was a skilled angler and he and Carol enjoyed many days together boating on the Florida waterways, deep sea fishing and scuba diving. They took many trips to the Keys during lobster season and just to explore the tropical waters. While on land, Ralph looked forward to casual rides on his Harley including an extended trip he took with Carol up through Tennessee and the Carolinas. Ralph dabbled in photography during his life, but to his surprise he proved to have an untapped artistic side, winning a 1st place award one year in the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery’s annual juried photography exhibition, Through the Eye of the Camera, in Ft. Pierce.

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years Carol S. Brockhaus, his daughters by marriage, Aileen M. Callan-Brumfield (John) and Patricia Callan Burke (Robert) as well as his five grandchildren, Anneka Early (Michael Jones), Katrina Early, Abigail Burke, Brendan Burke, and Caroline Burke. He also leaves behind his nieces Linda Stewart and Charlain Goyne; and nephews Charlie Dean, Michael Clark, and Philip Paxton. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Laverne and George Brockhaus and; sisters Lavonne Dean and Barbara Brockhaus; and his dear aunt Ellen Johnston.

A service will take place at South Florida National Cemetery on Friday June 20th 2025 at 1:00pm followed by a gathering of family and friends in Ft. Pierce. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph’s memory to Dogs and Cats Forever Inc. Fort Pierce, FL or The Treasure Coast Wildlife Center.