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1932
Ralph
2013
Ralph Lyons
April 23, 1932 — October 21, 2013
Ralph T. Lyons, 81, of Waukon, IA, formerly of rural Lansing, IA, died Monday, October 21, 2013, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 25th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 4:00 pm scripture service.
Ralph Thomas Lyons was born April 23, 1932, in Waukon, IA, the son of Thomas and Florence (Teeling) Lyons. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hanover. Ralph attended rural schools in Hanover and the Lycurgus area and graduated from St. Patrick Catholic School in 1950. He served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean War and was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. After the service he worked several jobs before he started farming. On July 6, 1957, he married Theresa Conway at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing, IA. They farmed together in French Creek Township rural Lansing, where they started with grade Holsteins and progressed to registered Holsteins which he took great pride in. They dispersed the herd in 1988.
Ralph was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lycurgus, where he served on the parish council. He was also a member of the American Legion for over 50 years, Iowa Holstein Association, where he served as a past president, served on the Select Sires Board, and was a 4-H leader. Ralph drove school bus and the VA van for several years. He enjoyed fishing which include several trips to Canada, hunting, and traveling. Ralph enjoyed family gatherings especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which always brought a smile to his face.
Survivors include his wife Theresa of Waukon; his children: Dan (Joan) of Waukon, David (Sandy), Barb (Scott) Beaton, and Bonnie (Bob) Wild, all of Lansing, Don (Lori) of West Des Moines, IA, Dennis (Sherri) of Waukon, Dale (Jennifer) of Cary, IL, and Doug (Karen) of Northfield, MN; 30 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother Francis (Joyce) of Waukon; a sister Betty Zischke of La Crosse, WI; and a brother-in-law John Smerud of New Albin, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter Katelyn Lyons; two sisters: Mary Howes and Rita Smerud; a brother James (Lorraine) Lyons; a brother-in-law Don Zischke; his father and mother-in-law: Peter and Veronica Conway, and a sister-in-law Ann Welch.
Honorary casketbearers are John Curtin, Brad Kerndt, Ralph Plein, Frank Regan, Jim Ronan and Butch Troendle. Casketbearers are Ralph's sons.
Ralph Thomas Lyons was born April 23, 1932, in Waukon, IA, the son of Thomas and Florence (Teeling) Lyons. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hanover. Ralph attended rural schools in Hanover and the Lycurgus area and graduated from St. Patrick Catholic School in 1950. He served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean War and was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. After the service he worked several jobs before he started farming. On July 6, 1957, he married Theresa Conway at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing, IA. They farmed together in French Creek Township rural Lansing, where they started with grade Holsteins and progressed to registered Holsteins which he took great pride in. They dispersed the herd in 1988.
Ralph was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lycurgus, where he served on the parish council. He was also a member of the American Legion for over 50 years, Iowa Holstein Association, where he served as a past president, served on the Select Sires Board, and was a 4-H leader. Ralph drove school bus and the VA van for several years. He enjoyed fishing which include several trips to Canada, hunting, and traveling. Ralph enjoyed family gatherings especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which always brought a smile to his face.
Survivors include his wife Theresa of Waukon; his children: Dan (Joan) of Waukon, David (Sandy), Barb (Scott) Beaton, and Bonnie (Bob) Wild, all of Lansing, Don (Lori) of West Des Moines, IA, Dennis (Sherri) of Waukon, Dale (Jennifer) of Cary, IL, and Doug (Karen) of Northfield, MN; 30 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother Francis (Joyce) of Waukon; a sister Betty Zischke of La Crosse, WI; and a brother-in-law John Smerud of New Albin, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter Katelyn Lyons; two sisters: Mary Howes and Rita Smerud; a brother James (Lorraine) Lyons; a brother-in-law Don Zischke; his father and mother-in-law: Peter and Veronica Conway, and a sister-in-law Ann Welch.
Honorary casketbearers are John Curtin, Brad Kerndt, Ralph Plein, Frank Regan, Jim Ronan and Butch Troendle. Casketbearers are Ralph's sons.
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