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1919
Ralph
2012
Ralph Willard Osterholz
December 25, 1919 — August 25, 2012
Ralph W. Osterholz, 92, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, August 25, 2012, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 28th, at 11:00 AM at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Ralph Willard Osterholz was born on December 25, 1919 in Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, the only child of John and Anna (Bechtel) Osterholz. He was baptized and confirmed in the Zalmona Presbyterian Church, attended the Helming country school, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1937. On January 17, 1941 Ralph married Mildred Louise Kaeser. They were the parents of two sons, Richard and Kenneth. Ralph spent his life as a dairy farmer, working alongside his father and his sons, while they were growing up, on the Osterholz Century Farm. He retired in 1991 and he and Mildred moved to Waukon where they built a new home.
Ralph was a lifelong member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and was ordained an Elder. He was very active throughout the community serving on the rural school board, the rural telephone board, the Farm Bureau Board, as a 4-H leader, and on the Board of Directors for Waukon State Bank for many years. He loved family occasions and supporting community events. Ralph also enjoyed reading, watching sports of all kinds, and having coffee with his many friends.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mildred; his two sons, Richard of Independence, MO and Kenneth (Linda) of Unionville, MO; 3 granddaughters, Wenona (Matt) Crutcher of Independence, MO, Anna Owen of Olathe, KS, and Gretchen (Dan) Sousek of Des Moines, IA; a great-grandson, Sebastian Sousek of Des Moines; his only niece, Janet (King) and her husband Tom Smith of Ames, IA; a grandniece, Debbie (Smith) and her husband Dave Bowling of Cedar Falls, IA; and a great-great-niece, Lauren Bowling and a great-great-nephew, Ryan Bowling, both of Cedar Falls. He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter-in-law, Delpha (Damitz) Osterholz; a sister-in-law, Pearl King; a brother-in-law, Ken King; and his only grandson, Samuel John Osterholz.
Ralph Willard Osterholz was born on December 25, 1919 in Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, the only child of John and Anna (Bechtel) Osterholz. He was baptized and confirmed in the Zalmona Presbyterian Church, attended the Helming country school, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1937. On January 17, 1941 Ralph married Mildred Louise Kaeser. They were the parents of two sons, Richard and Kenneth. Ralph spent his life as a dairy farmer, working alongside his father and his sons, while they were growing up, on the Osterholz Century Farm. He retired in 1991 and he and Mildred moved to Waukon where they built a new home.
Ralph was a lifelong member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and was ordained an Elder. He was very active throughout the community serving on the rural school board, the rural telephone board, the Farm Bureau Board, as a 4-H leader, and on the Board of Directors for Waukon State Bank for many years. He loved family occasions and supporting community events. Ralph also enjoyed reading, watching sports of all kinds, and having coffee with his many friends.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mildred; his two sons, Richard of Independence, MO and Kenneth (Linda) of Unionville, MO; 3 granddaughters, Wenona (Matt) Crutcher of Independence, MO, Anna Owen of Olathe, KS, and Gretchen (Dan) Sousek of Des Moines, IA; a great-grandson, Sebastian Sousek of Des Moines; his only niece, Janet (King) and her husband Tom Smith of Ames, IA; a grandniece, Debbie (Smith) and her husband Dave Bowling of Cedar Falls, IA; and a great-great-niece, Lauren Bowling and a great-great-nephew, Ryan Bowling, both of Cedar Falls. He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter-in-law, Delpha (Damitz) Osterholz; a sister-in-law, Pearl King; a brother-in-law, Ken King; and his only grandson, Samuel John Osterholz.
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