Ralph Norman “Lefty” Fabricius, age 96, of Berlin, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Brown Wilcox Retirement Home.
He was born January 12, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Ralph and Jessie Larson Fabricius. Lefty was a 1948 graduate of Waupaca High School. He competed in football, basketball, baseball and track, winning the conference championships in football and basketball in his junior year. Lefty attended college at UW-Madison, then transferred to Dana College and S.M.U., before returning to UW-Madison, graduating in 1953. Lefty was a part of the ROTC program, and after college, served in the Military Police in the U. S. Army. On December 21, 1957, he was united in marriage to Judith Gustin at Union Congregational Church in Berlin.
Lefty started working for his future father-in-law, Bill Gustin, then owner of W. C. Russell Moccasin Co. in 1956. He and his wife, Judy, along with their children Bill and Suzi, would own the company for many years, selling it when Lefty was 92. For many decades, Lefty was also the longtime President of Mascoutin Golf Course Board of Directors. He was fundamental in getting the new course off the ground in the mid-1970s. He donated countless hours of his time promoting the club, working tirelessly around the course planting trees and quietly going around the course doing whatever needed doing.
He and Judy loved having fun! They enjoyed traveling, dancing, golfing, exercising, lake life, going to Packer and Badger football games and going out to eat at many different restaurants around the Waupaca and Wautoma area. Lefty especially loved his Makers Mark Manhattans with cherry juice and cherries!
He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Fabricius; granddaughters, Kiersten McNulty and Natay (Adria) Warren; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Hazel Warren; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Fabricius.
Lefty was preceded in death by his wife, Judith, on December 23, 2023; son, Bill Fabricius; brother, Donald (Polly) Fabricius; and sister-in-law, Susan Gustin.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. Rebekah Tarras officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Gathering to follow at Mastricola's On Broadway, food will be served. Memorials may be directed to Mascoutin Country Club. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Ralph Fabricuis, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin WI 54923. Online condolences may be sent to the family at barbolafc@yahoo.com.
