STERNHAGEN, Ralph J. 1962-2016

STERNHAGEN, HILLEBRAND, KARDELL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Ralph J. Sternhagen, 54, of Holland, Iowa passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center, Iowa with Pastor Luther Thoresen officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday November 11, 2016 at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center.

Ralph John Sternhagen, son of Merlin and Marian (Hillebrand) Sternhagen was born on September 11, 1962 in Independence, Iowa. He attended high school in Grundy Center. Ralph's main vocation was as a truck driver for a variety of companies. On May 20, 1989 he married Ronda Renee Kardell in Grundy Center. Ralph had resided in Grundy Center and the Holland area most of his life. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center. He was an avid Pittsburg Steelers fan. His hobbies included hunting and fishing, working in his garage with his own extensive collection of Craftsman tools and tinkering with Cub Cadet lawn tractors. Ralph would build anything that his wife Ronda needed in her art classroom. He also enjoyed following his two sons school activities which included Andrew's sports and FFA activities and Matthew's sporting events. He loved spending time with his family, especially his two boys.

Survivors include his loving wife Ronda Sternhagen; sons, Andrew and Matthew Sternhagen all of Holland; his siblings, Ruth Ann (Ray) Wilson of Grundy Center, Gerald (Kathi) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Joan Sternhagen of Waterloo, Elaine (Mike) Costello of Waterloo, Joe (LaVonne) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Donna Fowler of Grundy Center, Velma (Gerry) Ulferts of Grundy Center, Linda (Bill) Harrington of Des Moines, Roger (Jean) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Barbara Eiklenborg of Marshalltown, and Debbie (Mike) Schmidt of Marshalltown; brother-in-law, Ryan (Holly) Kardell of Gardner, KS; father-in-law and mother-in-law, David and Joyce Kardell of Hancock, IA; 27 nieces and nephews and 10 great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Ralph was also preceded in death by his daughter, Anna Claryce Sternhagen; brother, Marvin Sternhagen; nephews, Gerred and Brandon Sternhagen; nieces, Abbey and Tiffany Sternhagen; sister-in-law, Frances Sternhagen; brothers-in-law, Robert Olsen and Carl Fowler.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)