Ralph Heim, Jr.

Ralph William Heim, Jr., 75, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away Friday, April 8, 2022 following an illness. He was born in Orlando, Florida, May 22, 1946 to Ralph and Ouida Heim.

Ralph grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. As a young man he enlisted in the USMCR and returned to complete his education at Jacksonville University with a degree in Business Administration. Post graduation, he entered the emerging field of containerized ocean freight transportation as a management trainee and remained in that industry for his entire career. He held a variety of positions in the United States and abroad with his last being President and Chief Operating Officer of Trailer Bridge Inc, a Jacksonville based company that Ralph helped launch in 1991.  During his Trailer Bridge tenure he was also instrumental in the development of a unique system for intermodal transport of automobiles that was subsequently awarded 4 patents.

In retirement Ralph was blessed with a late blooming talent as an artist with much of his art celebrating the industry he was a part of for so long as well as the natural surroundings of this area that he enjoyed so much.

Over the years, Ralph was active in his church and the community, serving in numerous capacities in both.  Especially gratifying was involvement with the church’s build out of the new facility in 2010.

Ralph was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 53 years, the cutest girl in his 3rd grade class. He is also survived by his daughter, Shelly; son, William (Nicky); grandchildren; Sadie Ponicall, Tyler Frank, Alex Heim and Cambria Heim; sisters, Cathy Fox and Martha Pittman (Kim) and brother Richard (Jamie) and a numberous nieces and nephews. Ralph is predeceased by his parents Ralph and Ouida Heim.

A Celebration of Ralph’s Life will be held in Anglican Church of the Redeemer, 4815 Executive Park Ct. #200, Jacksonville, FL 32216, at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 18th.

A virtual celebration will also be available during the time of the service via Church of the Redeemer Facebook Video Live. Or via church website https://redeemerlives.net/ select Redeemer Facebook Page and Videos, then select Live.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Prisoners of Christ Ministry or to Church of the Redeemer . Mailing address and phone numbers are provided below under "Donattions".