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Ralph Carl Litterer

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Ralph Carl Litterer Veteran

Birth
Butler County, Iowa, USA
Death
17 May 2012 (aged 89)
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, USA
Burial
Greene, Butler County, Iowa, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Ralph Carl Litterer, 89, of Greene, was born April 8, 1923, in Butler County, Iowa, the eldest of 12 children blessed to Theophil and Elsie (Witt) Litterer.
He entered eternal rest on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

He received his education in country school. As a young man he worked as a farm hand. He was inducted into the United States Army Air Force on April 2, 1943, and served as an airplane mechanic. Ralph was honorably discharged on Feb. 20, 1946. He later worked for Pooley's Implement and for Hamilton and Gabe.

On May 29, 1950, Ralph and Ardys Pauline Barth were married at the United Church of Christ Pleasant Hill in rural Nashua. This marriage was blessed with one daughter and two sons.

Ralph worked for Van Dyke Cars and Barth Chevrolet for more than 20 years before becoming self-employed as the owner of Ralph's Co-op Service. He retired at age 65, but for only one year. At age 66 Ralph worked for the City of Greene for the next 14 years. Following his true retirement at age 80 he remained active helping his family and friends build their homes or doing any work that needed to be done. He was a "Jack of all Trades" and mastered them all.

He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Greene where he served as a deacon, usher and maintenance man. Ralph was very active in church activities and with a cheerful heart was always willing to perform any duty presented to him.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ardys;
one daughter, Jolene (Jason) Jenkins, Woodlawn, Tenn.;
two sons: Douglas (Connie) Litterer of Greene, and Bruce (Jerilynn) Litterer of Woodlands, Texas;
seven grandchildren: Tracy (Mike) Martzahn, Sara (Marty) Adelmund, Kristy (Jeremy) Hovde, Mandy (Richard) Frost, Melissa (Kevin) Blackwood, Shawn (Molly) Litterer, Megan (Michael) Travis;
16 great-grandchildren: Logan, Lucas, Brandon, Molly, Carly, Jacy, Lexy, Bryce, Brady, Braeden, Makenzie, Alivia, Hunter, Ethan, Ava and Aubrie;
three sisters: Ruth Fisher of Nashua, Margret (Carl) Horengic of Upper Marboro, Md., and Shirley (Dave) Rottink of Plainfield;
six brothers: Paul (Mary) Litterer of Waverly, Wilbur (Marge) Litterer of Waverly, Richard (Ida) Litterer of Clarksville, Roger (Peggy) Litterer of Clarksville, Arnold (Yvonne) Litterer of Marble Rock, Bob (Sherry) Litterer of Clarksville;
sister-in-law Ann Litterer, Waverly;
brother-in-law: Mark Fisher, Charles City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hulda Fisher; brother, Lawrence Litterer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 21, 2012, at Church of the Brethren in Greene with Pastor Ashok Patet officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, with military honors conducted by Tack-Barnett Post 268, American Legion of Greene. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at Reid's Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene, with a Scripture service at 7 p.m.
Ralph Carl Litterer, 89, of Greene, was born April 8, 1923, in Butler County, Iowa, the eldest of 12 children blessed to Theophil and Elsie (Witt) Litterer.
He entered eternal rest on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

He received his education in country school. As a young man he worked as a farm hand. He was inducted into the United States Army Air Force on April 2, 1943, and served as an airplane mechanic. Ralph was honorably discharged on Feb. 20, 1946. He later worked for Pooley's Implement and for Hamilton and Gabe.

On May 29, 1950, Ralph and Ardys Pauline Barth were married at the United Church of Christ Pleasant Hill in rural Nashua. This marriage was blessed with one daughter and two sons.

Ralph worked for Van Dyke Cars and Barth Chevrolet for more than 20 years before becoming self-employed as the owner of Ralph's Co-op Service. He retired at age 65, but for only one year. At age 66 Ralph worked for the City of Greene for the next 14 years. Following his true retirement at age 80 he remained active helping his family and friends build their homes or doing any work that needed to be done. He was a "Jack of all Trades" and mastered them all.

He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Greene where he served as a deacon, usher and maintenance man. Ralph was very active in church activities and with a cheerful heart was always willing to perform any duty presented to him.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ardys;
one daughter, Jolene (Jason) Jenkins, Woodlawn, Tenn.;
two sons: Douglas (Connie) Litterer of Greene, and Bruce (Jerilynn) Litterer of Woodlands, Texas;
seven grandchildren: Tracy (Mike) Martzahn, Sara (Marty) Adelmund, Kristy (Jeremy) Hovde, Mandy (Richard) Frost, Melissa (Kevin) Blackwood, Shawn (Molly) Litterer, Megan (Michael) Travis;
16 great-grandchildren: Logan, Lucas, Brandon, Molly, Carly, Jacy, Lexy, Bryce, Brady, Braeden, Makenzie, Alivia, Hunter, Ethan, Ava and Aubrie;
three sisters: Ruth Fisher of Nashua, Margret (Carl) Horengic of Upper Marboro, Md., and Shirley (Dave) Rottink of Plainfield;
six brothers: Paul (Mary) Litterer of Waverly, Wilbur (Marge) Litterer of Waverly, Richard (Ida) Litterer of Clarksville, Roger (Peggy) Litterer of Clarksville, Arnold (Yvonne) Litterer of Marble Rock, Bob (Sherry) Litterer of Clarksville;
sister-in-law Ann Litterer, Waverly;
brother-in-law: Mark Fisher, Charles City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hulda Fisher; brother, Lawrence Litterer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 21, 2012, at Church of the Brethren in Greene with Pastor Ashok Patet officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, with military honors conducted by Tack-Barnett Post 268, American Legion of Greene. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at Reid's Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene, with a Scripture service at 7 p.m.


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