Ralph James Offerman
April 13, 1923 — May 31, 2005
Ralph J. Offerman, 82, of Manchester, died Tuesday, May 31, 2005 in his home following a lengthy illness.
Funeral mass will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2005 at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Manchester. Friends may call from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. There will be a wake service Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Inurnment will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Pine View Cemetery in Delaware with military rites.
Ralph was born on April 13, 1923 in Delhi, the son of Clemens N. and Ellen S. (Sheridan) Offerman. He attended St. John?s parochial school in Ryan. Ralph helped on the family farm and worked as a hired hand before entering the U.S. Navy in December of 1943. He served in the South Pacific during World War II in the Aviation Repair and Overhaul Unit. Upon his discharge in April of 1946, Ralph worked for Klinger?s Construction in Waterloo. On June 12, 1951 Ralph was united in marriage to Lila M. Kelchen at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Manchester. The couple farmed in the Ryan and Manchester area. Ralph also worked construction. In 1964, they moved to their home in Delaware.
Ralph was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church and the American Legion Post #45 in Manchester. He enjoyed restoring two-cylinder John Deere tractors.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Lila M. Offerman of Manchester; seven children, Jakie Offerman of Colorado Springs, CO, Debi Shannon of New Smyna Beach, FL, Sam (Julie) Offerman of Charles City, Dave (Barb) Offerman of Manchester, Dr. Rick (Mary) Offerman of Richmond, VA, Jeff (Lisa) Offerman of Arlington, and Doug Offerman of Scottsdale, AZ; six grandchildren; three sisters, Anna (Don) Burns of Dubuque, Clementine Young of Earlville, Cecelia Behan of Cedar Rapids; and a sister-in-law, Maxine Offerman of Manchester.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clemens & Ellen Offerman; a sister, Sr. Mary Columba; and three brothers, John "Dorrance?, Joseph "J.C.?, and Cletus Offerman.
Please sign our online guestbook for Ralph at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Funeral mass will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2005 at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Manchester. Friends may call from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. There will be a wake service Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Inurnment will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Pine View Cemetery in Delaware with military rites.
Ralph was born on April 13, 1923 in Delhi, the son of Clemens N. and Ellen S. (Sheridan) Offerman. He attended St. John?s parochial school in Ryan. Ralph helped on the family farm and worked as a hired hand before entering the U.S. Navy in December of 1943. He served in the South Pacific during World War II in the Aviation Repair and Overhaul Unit. Upon his discharge in April of 1946, Ralph worked for Klinger?s Construction in Waterloo. On June 12, 1951 Ralph was united in marriage to Lila M. Kelchen at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Manchester. The couple farmed in the Ryan and Manchester area. Ralph also worked construction. In 1964, they moved to their home in Delaware.
Ralph was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church and the American Legion Post #45 in Manchester. He enjoyed restoring two-cylinder John Deere tractors.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Lila M. Offerman of Manchester; seven children, Jakie Offerman of Colorado Springs, CO, Debi Shannon of New Smyna Beach, FL, Sam (Julie) Offerman of Charles City, Dave (Barb) Offerman of Manchester, Dr. Rick (Mary) Offerman of Richmond, VA, Jeff (Lisa) Offerman of Arlington, and Doug Offerman of Scottsdale, AZ; six grandchildren; three sisters, Anna (Don) Burns of Dubuque, Clementine Young of Earlville, Cecelia Behan of Cedar Rapids; and a sister-in-law, Maxine Offerman of Manchester.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clemens & Ellen Offerman; a sister, Sr. Mary Columba; and three brothers, John "Dorrance?, Joseph "J.C.?, and Cletus Offerman.
Please sign our online guestbook for Ralph at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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