Ralph Leroy Thoren, Sr.
December 17, 1918 — October 19, 2011
Ralph L. Thoren, 92, of Solon, Iowa, died at home Wednesday, October 19, 2011. Services: 11:00 a.m., Monday October 24, 2011, at Shueyville United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Tom Carver. Family will greet friends from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, October 23, 2011, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Burial: Shueyville Cemetery, with military rites.
Survivors include his children, Roxanne (Ted) Youngton of Cedar Rapids, Ralph (Jane) Thoren, Jr. of Fairmont, Minnesota and Key West Florida, and Rhonda (Mike) Tullis of Marion; step daughter, Betty (Jim) Southern of Newton; 17 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Travis of Cedar Rapids; brother, Gilbert “Junior” (Norma) Thoren of Hiawatha; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Thoren and Ann Thoren both of Des Moines.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Betty Thoren and Fern Thoren; son, Rod Thoren; step-son, Bob Kenyon; granddaughter, Kerry Lynn Philipp; step granddaughter, Debbie Southern Brown; great grandson, Drake Whitters; and great granddaughter, Kylie Thoren. Also preceding him in death are his siblings, Elmer Thoren, Alvin Thoren, LaVerne Thoren, Ruth Webb, twins, Ila and Ilene Thoren, Esther Thoren, Ellen Thoren and Ernest Thoren; and brother-in-law, Wendell Travis.
Born December 17, 1918, in Des Moines, Iowa, Ralph was the son of Gilbert and Minnie (Johnson) Thoren. He graduated in 1938, from East High School in Des Moines. Ralph joined the United States Army in 1942. Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to the Des Moines area and worked for Lambs Dental Lab. He served in the U.S. Naval reserves from 1947 until 1950. Ralph was united in marriage in 1945 to Betty Tucker in Indiana. The couple moved to Hiawatha in 1961, and Ralph went into partnership with his brother Gilbert “Junior” in a denture lab. They later moved to Solon area. Ralph went to work in maintenance for the U.S. Postal service retiring in 1974. Betty died in 1976. Ralph married Melissa “Fern” Kenyon in 1978. Fern died in June of 2007.
Ralph was a member of the Shueyville United Methodist Church and is a Free Mason belonging to the Cedar Rapids Masonic Lodge Mizpah #639. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed snowmobiling, square dancing, league bowling and boating with his family. Ralph was devoted to his family and will be remembered as the greatest Dad and Grandfather.
Memorials may be directed to the Shueyville United Methodist Church, 1195 Steeple Lane NE, Swisher, Iowa 52338.
Survivors include his children, Roxanne (Ted) Youngton of Cedar Rapids, Ralph (Jane) Thoren, Jr. of Fairmont, Minnesota and Key West Florida, and Rhonda (Mike) Tullis of Marion; step daughter, Betty (Jim) Southern of Newton; 17 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Travis of Cedar Rapids; brother, Gilbert “Junior” (Norma) Thoren of Hiawatha; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Thoren and Ann Thoren both of Des Moines.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Betty Thoren and Fern Thoren; son, Rod Thoren; step-son, Bob Kenyon; granddaughter, Kerry Lynn Philipp; step granddaughter, Debbie Southern Brown; great grandson, Drake Whitters; and great granddaughter, Kylie Thoren. Also preceding him in death are his siblings, Elmer Thoren, Alvin Thoren, LaVerne Thoren, Ruth Webb, twins, Ila and Ilene Thoren, Esther Thoren, Ellen Thoren and Ernest Thoren; and brother-in-law, Wendell Travis.
Born December 17, 1918, in Des Moines, Iowa, Ralph was the son of Gilbert and Minnie (Johnson) Thoren. He graduated in 1938, from East High School in Des Moines. Ralph joined the United States Army in 1942. Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to the Des Moines area and worked for Lambs Dental Lab. He served in the U.S. Naval reserves from 1947 until 1950. Ralph was united in marriage in 1945 to Betty Tucker in Indiana. The couple moved to Hiawatha in 1961, and Ralph went into partnership with his brother Gilbert “Junior” in a denture lab. They later moved to Solon area. Ralph went to work in maintenance for the U.S. Postal service retiring in 1974. Betty died in 1976. Ralph married Melissa “Fern” Kenyon in 1978. Fern died in June of 2007.
Ralph was a member of the Shueyville United Methodist Church and is a Free Mason belonging to the Cedar Rapids Masonic Lodge Mizpah #639. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed snowmobiling, square dancing, league bowling and boating with his family. Ralph was devoted to his family and will be remembered as the greatest Dad and Grandfather.
Memorials may be directed to the Shueyville United Methodist Church, 1195 Steeple Lane NE, Swisher, Iowa 52338.
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