In celebration of a life well-lived, we announce the death of our father, Ralph Bokeno Junior of Fairfield, 96, who died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of June 16. Born on Christmas Day 1929 to Ralph Bokeno Sr. and Dorothy Bokeno (Wetzel), Mr. Bokeno was a life-long resident of the Hamilton/Fairfield area. Following graduation from Hamilton High in 1948, Mr. Bokeno joined the army and fought in the Korean Conflict, earning five bronze stars for combat action and was inducted into the Butler County Veterans Hall of Fame in 2023. Upon discharge, he married Lois Mignerey of Lindenwald, and together they raised five children during their 67 years of marriage while Ralph established a 38-year long career at General Electric aviation.

In 1946, Ralph started a seventy-eight-year annual Memorial Day tradition by hitch-hiking to the Cincinnati bus station where, after sleeping on the bus station steps overnight, he caught the bus to attend his first Indianapolis 500. Today, eighteen family members attend, Ralph having stopped at the age of ninety.

Ralph is survived by three sons and one daughter: R Michael (Margo) of Murray, Kentucky, J. Kevin (Kathy) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mary Beth Brown (Forrest) of Charleston, South Carolina, and Thomas Edward (Lisa) of Fairfield, Ohio, twelve Grandchildren and ten Great Grandchildren. Also surviving Ralph are two sisters, Geraldine Plinneke (Jack) and Rita Lakes (Robert)

Ralph is preceded in death by Lois, his wife of 67 years and two sons, Daniel Joseph (Kathy) and John Francis and a sister, Connie Kostomay-Frank.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any Diabetic Association, National Kidney Foundation or Tunnel 2 Towers.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 6:00-8:00pm in the Zettler Funeral Home, 2646 Pleasant Ave. Prayers will be offered Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 10:00am in the Zettler Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial that will be held Thursday at 10:30am in Sacred Heart Church. Online register book at www.zettlerfuneralhome.com