Ralph Henry Gieser

Ralph went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at the age of 89. Ralph Henry Gieser, the son of Adolf and Alvena (Schmoll) Gieser, was born September 3, 1916, on the family farm near Hartley, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. His childhood years were spent in Hartley where he received his early education in country schools, later graduating from Hartley High School in 1934. Ralph attended a diesel mechanic school in Chicago for one year. Following his schooling, he worked at an auto repair shop in Round Lake, MN, before returning to the family farm near Hartley. On August 22, 1938, Ralph married Viola Peterson at the First English Lutheran Church in Spencer, IA. To this union were born three children: Nancy, Sandra and Tom. Following their marriage, they began farming near Hartley and later Sutherland, until their retirement in 1979. After retirement, they lived in Sutherland until 2002 when they moved to Sheldon to the Fieldcrest Assisted Living and later, the Oak Park Care Center. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland. Ralph and Vi enjoyed camping, fishing and taking numerous trips around the country and going to the races. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 67 years, Vi, of Sheldon, IA; two daughters: Nancy and her husband, Bob Puhrmann, of Paullina, IA, and Sandra and her husband, Ron Zelewski, of Orange City, IA, and Grand Forks, ND; one son, Thomas and his wife, Gail Gieser, of Sheldon, IA; six grandchildren: Kevin (LuAnn) Puhrmann, Steve (Debbie) Puhrmann, Amy Mills and fianc�, Greg Trojan, Angela (Dean) Paulsen, Eric Gieser and Valerie Gieser; 12 great-grandchildren: Kayla, Kyle, Kim, Stephanie and Lisa Puhrmann, Brenda and Brad Zybarth, Wesley Mills, Karissa, Michael and Daniel Paulsen, and Anna Gieser; one sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Bob Steele, of Hartley, IA; other relatives and friends. His parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Ardyce and George Klarstrom, preceded him in death.

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