Ralph Lease

LEASE, PESCHL, WISE, CLARK, LITTLE, BUNKOFSKE, CHURCH, BAINES, ROBINSON, GRIFFIN, RYAN, FLYNN, PRICE, LUTTON

Posted By: Christine Clark <amazonprincess73@yahoo.com>
Date: 6/1/2008 at 10:18:01

RALPH LEASE OBITUARY
Taken from the Mason City Globe Gazette

Iowa Falls – Ralph Lease, 78, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, passed away Thursday (Jan. 16, 2003) from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident near Goodell, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at Saint Mark’s Catholic Church in Iowa Falls, with burial in Saint Mark’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Linn’s Funeral Home, Iowa Falls chapel with a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary.

The Linn’s Funeral Homes, Iowa Falls chapel is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the family care of his wife, Bonnie Lease, 10967 US Highway 65 North, Iowa Falls, IA 50126.

Ralph Eugene Lease was born Dec. 1, 1924, at his parents farm in Burnett County, Wisconsin, the son of Ralph Julius and Martha (Peschl) Lease. He attended his first year of school in Webster, Wis., before moving to Foley, Minn., graduating from Foley Community Schools in 1942. He began his love for football as the quarterback for his high school team. He then attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., until entering the United States Navy on December 9, 1944, serving on the USS Gilmer and the USS Golden City as a radioman.

Ralph was united in marriage to Bonnie June Wise at Holy Family Church, June 21, 1948, in Mason City, Iowa. To this union 11 children were born; Georgia, Corrine, Catherine, Ralph Jr., Michael, Teresa, Diane, Joseph, Thomas, Angela and Mary.

Ralph was employed by Western Electric, Northwestern Bell Telephone, and US West as a telephone technician, retiring in 1986 after 40 years of service.

Ralph and Bonnie then operated the Junction Truck Stop north of Iowa Falls until 1989. Ralph also drove or Dale Howard, which gave him further chance to travel.

Ralph loved life and the St. Johnnies’ football team, following them around the country. There were no strangers in his life, only new friends. Ralph always had a joke or a story to tell. He never passed a casino or Sam’s Club without stopping for a visit.

Ralph was a member of the St. Mark Parish, Iowa Falls, Hyman – Peavey American Legion Post 188, Iowa Falls; and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 8708, Iowa Falls.

Ralph Lease is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie; 11 children, Georgia Clark of Mason City; Cori Little and her husband, Dick, of Burlington, Iowa; Cathy Bunkofske and her husband, Bill, of Garner; Ralph Lease Jr. and his wife, Elena, of Artesia, N.M.; Michael Lease and his wife, Carla, of Mason City; Terri Church and her husband, Dave, of West Valley City, Utah; Diane Baines and her husband, Bob, of Gaithersburg, Md.; Joe Lease and his wife, Becky, of Madrid, Iowa; Tom Lease and wife, Jo, of Iowa Falls; Angie Robinson and her husband, Jerry, of Randall, Iowa; Mary Griffin and husband, Matt, of East Moline, Ill.; 35 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one brother, Norman Lease and his wife, Rosie, of Foley, Minn.; one sister, Judy Ryan of Arcadia, Calif.; one brother-in-law, Strother Wise of Las Vegas, Nev.; and two sisters-in-law, Iva Flynn of Mason City, and Sarah Price and her husband, Tad, of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph J. and Martha Lease; one sister and brother-in-law, Marge and Earl Lutton; and one granddaughter, Elizabeth Lease.

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