Rama Ramagopal

Rama Ramagopal, 82, of Bolingbrook, IL, formerly of Appleton, WI, passed away on November 26, 2017. A celebration of his life will be held on December 9th, 2017 at Draft Gastropub from 12-3pm in Appleton, WI. Rama was born on May 3, 1935 in Tumkur, India. He was the fourth of six children of Gubbi Rajagopalachar and G. Sundaramma. Rama attended school in Tumkur and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from First Grade College in Tumkur. In 1958 Rama moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. After completing his studies, Rama worked as a research chemist for corporations throughout the Midwest. During his career he specialized in the development of inks, retiring as Senior Chemist at Viskase Corporation in 2000. In 1985 Rama married the love of his life, Corrine John Ramagopal. They enjoyed 32 wonderful years of marriage before Corrine passed away in July of this year. Rama and Corrine created a fun and fulfilling life together, and for their four daughters and eight grandchildren. Visits to Rama and Corrine’s home were full of joy, warmth, amazing food, and laughter! In his free time Rama enjoyed stimulating his interest in physics, poring through Albert Einstein biographies, and watching sports, especially NFL football. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, enjoying the excitement of the team’s ups and downs for many decades. In his younger years, Rama enjoyed traveling the globe, returning many times to India to see his family. Rama delighted in delicious food, especially his wife Corrine’s, and had a great appreciation for all kinds of music, including South Indian classical and his wife’s joyful kitchen singing, highlighting the 50’s and 60’s era pop tunes! He is remembered for his playful demeanor, his sense of humor, his warmth, determination and intelligence, and above all, his caring spirit and devotion to family. One particularly endearing love of his was observing the moon. On long distance phone calls he always said, “if we are both looking at the moon, then we are not so far away.” His family takes great comfort in knowing this is still true. Rama is survived by his daughters Leila (Brian) Pertl, Shantha Ramagopal (Armin Haken), Amy Leggett, Melissa (John) Louch, grandchildren Oliver, Sofia, Nicolas, Owen, Ethan, Alexander, Aela and Rishi, Sisters-in-law Saroja Srinivasan and Shantha Bhashyam, brother G.R. Lokanath (Geetha), sister Leela Dwarakanath (Dwarak), and many loving nieces and nephews, particularly Mohan Rajan, who has been Rama’s devoted friend and supporter. In addition to his parents and his wife Corrine, Rama was preceded in death by his brothers G.R. Srinivas Iyengar and G.R. Bhashyam, his sister Padma S. Rajan, and his brother-in-law N.S. Sundara Rajan.