Ralph Anthony Nefzger
October 17, 1930 — April 17, 2008
Ralph A. Nefzger, 77, of Earlville, Iowa died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at Finley Hospital, Dubuque, following a sudden illness.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earlville with Rev. Herbert Tegeler officiating. Friends may call from 2:00 pm ?" 8:00 pm Monday, April 21, 2008 where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Scripture Service at Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home in Earlville, Iowa, and after 9:00 a.m. Tuesday prior to services. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery in Earlville.
Ralph was born October 17, 1930 in Petersburg, Iowa, the son of John A. and Clara J. (Kramer) Nefzger. He attended school in Petersburg and St. Joseph’s in Earlville. Ralph joined the U.S. Marines in 1951, serving in Korea. Following discharge from the service, Ralph returned to the Earlville area to farm, and worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and Linkbelt. On June 15, 1957, Ralph married Shirley Ann Paul at St. John’s Catholic Church in Delhi. The couple farmed until retiring and moving to town in 1997.
Ralph was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Dyersville Sportsman Club, and was a 50 year member of the Carpenter-Diesch-White American Legion Post #436, Earlville. Ralph enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, antique tractors, and loved his family and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Shirley Nefzger of Earlville; six children, John [Linda] Nefzger of Earlville, Joe [Karen] Nefzger of Dyersville, Tom [Joyce] Nefzger of Earlville, Tim [Karen] Nefzger of Dyersville, Deb [Al] Hermsen of Manchester, and Beth [Jack] Nordgren of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; two brothers, Donald Nefzger of Manchester, Art [Pat] Nefzger of Earlville; two sisters, Irene Pasker of Manchester and Nadine Ruley of Oxford Junction; nineteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, John & Clara Nefzger; two sisters, Helen Nefzger and Lois Nefzger; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Nefzger, and two brothers-in-law, Albert Pasker and John Ruley.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earlville with Rev. Herbert Tegeler officiating. Friends may call from 2:00 pm ?" 8:00 pm Monday, April 21, 2008 where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Scripture Service at Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home in Earlville, Iowa, and after 9:00 a.m. Tuesday prior to services. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery in Earlville.
Ralph was born October 17, 1930 in Petersburg, Iowa, the son of John A. and Clara J. (Kramer) Nefzger. He attended school in Petersburg and St. Joseph’s in Earlville. Ralph joined the U.S. Marines in 1951, serving in Korea. Following discharge from the service, Ralph returned to the Earlville area to farm, and worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and Linkbelt. On June 15, 1957, Ralph married Shirley Ann Paul at St. John’s Catholic Church in Delhi. The couple farmed until retiring and moving to town in 1997.
Ralph was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Dyersville Sportsman Club, and was a 50 year member of the Carpenter-Diesch-White American Legion Post #436, Earlville. Ralph enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, antique tractors, and loved his family and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Shirley Nefzger of Earlville; six children, John [Linda] Nefzger of Earlville, Joe [Karen] Nefzger of Dyersville, Tom [Joyce] Nefzger of Earlville, Tim [Karen] Nefzger of Dyersville, Deb [Al] Hermsen of Manchester, and Beth [Jack] Nordgren of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; two brothers, Donald Nefzger of Manchester, Art [Pat] Nefzger of Earlville; two sisters, Irene Pasker of Manchester and Nadine Ruley of Oxford Junction; nineteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, John & Clara Nefzger; two sisters, Helen Nefzger and Lois Nefzger; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Nefzger, and two brothers-in-law, Albert Pasker and John Ruley.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
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