DEVRIES, Ralph 1913-2001

DEVRIES, MULLER, HARRINGA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/29/2012 at 14:00:46

Ralph DeVries, 88, of Holland, died Wednesday, May 16 at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home in Cedar Falls.

Funeral Services were 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 21 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, rural Wellsburg. Pastor Mary Kenosian officiated. Burial followed at the church cemetery. A memorial fund has been established.

Ralph was born on January 6, 1913, in Colfax Township, Grundy County, the son of Henry and Ella (Muller) DeVries. Ralph attended Colfax #3 country school. Pastor William Planz united Ralph in marriage to Louise Harringa on January 6, 1943 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Titonka. Ralph and Louise were married for 58 years.

Ralph and Louise farmed for over 40 years at the same farm in rural Holland. He and Louise moved to Grundy Center in 1997. Ralph also worked for the Wellsburg School District as a mechanic and as a bus driver for 7 years. Ralph and Louise were janitors at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Wellsburg for 20 years.

Ralph was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for 57 years where he served in the past as a Deacon, a former church council member, a past Sunday School Superintendent and also a former Sunday School Teacher. Ralph loved to fish with family and friends, enjoyed woodworking and he enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include his wife Louise of Grundy Center; a daughter Ruth (Dennis) Knock of Stout; a son Robert DeVries of Windsor, CO; five grandchildren, Staci (Matt) Folot, Stella (Marvin) Ferris, Brian DeVries, Eric Knock and Rachel Knock; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Gertie DeVries of Cedar Falls.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Doyen-Abels Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 May 2001, pg 3