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Ralph T. “Buddy” Dougherty, 83, of Waukon died Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 8 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.
Ralph "Buddy" Thomas Dougherty was born December 11, 1931 on his parents' farm in rural Waukon, the son of John and Anna (Haas) Dougherty. He attended Makee country school and St. Patrick Catholic High School.
February 16, 1963, he married Janice Starkey at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Buddy farmed with his father for a few years. In 1970, he went to work for Bob Stilwell as a carpenter before he then worked many years for Gary Berger doing concrete work until 1991.
Ralph enjoyed hunting, fishing, listening to music, and following the bands his sons, Dave and Pat, played in. Buddy loved telling stories and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Janice, of Waukon; his children: David (Brenda) Dougherty, Diana (Chad) Ness and Shelly (Randy) Vine, all of Waukon, Brian Dougherty of Dorchester and Jamie Dougherty of Waukon; 19 grandchildren; a brother, Bernard Dougherty of New Albin; three sisters: Mabel Sires of Mabel, MN, Anna (Charlie) Souhrada of Texas and Marie Herold of Osage. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Patrick Dougherty; three sisters: Florence Lembke and Joan and Jean Dougherty; three brothers: Vincent, Francis and Leo Dougherty; and an infant sibling.
Honorary casketbearers were Ralph's grandchildren. Casketbearers were Mike, John and Greg Dougherty, Ken Lembke, Ed Herold, Bill Sires and Shawn Souhrada.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.