Ralph Charles Zuber, 03 Nov 1920 – 21 Dec 2010

ZUBER, HERGERT, WENDLER, BICKERT, TROXEL, GODWIN, SCHMID, LEFFINGWELL

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/28/2011 at 17:23:49

Funeral services for Ralph C. Zuber, 90, Amana, were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 24, at the Middle Amana Community Church. He died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, at Colonial Manor, Amana, following a brief illness.

Church elder Betsy Momany officiated at the service.

Burial was in the High Amana Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Ralph Charles Zuber was born Nov. 3, 1920, in West Amana, the son of Charles and Dora Hergert Zuber. He graduated from Amana High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945.

He married Helen Wendler Nov. 4, 1945, at High Amana. Upon returning from the Navy, he attended Coe College. He was employed at Amana Refrigeration as a plant manager and then worked at the Amana Furniture Shop as a production manager for many years, until his retirement.

His love of baseball began as a child when he earnestly followed the Chicago Cubs baseball team. His career began as a pitcher for the Amana Freezers, continuing with a short stint with the St. Louis Browns team. He always fondly recalled the day he “pitched to Babe Ruth.”

He enjoyed golf and played many of the area courses. He loved to stay tuned into the stock market. He also spent many hours with his devoted cat, Mitzi.

Zuber is survived by two daughters, Susan Bickert, Troy, Ohio, and Eileen Troxel and husband William, St. Paul, Minn.; four grandchildren, Benjamin Bickert and wife Erin, Homestead; Kelsey Godwin and husband Rickey, Troy, and Whitney Troxel and Claire Troxel, St. Paul; four great-grandchildren, Ava and Ian Bickert, Homestead, and Hayden and Brody Godwin, Troy, and his beloved companion, Lorraine Schmid, East Amana.

He was preceded in death by his wife, in 1997; his parents; one sister, Lucille Leffingwell, and one brother, Elmer Zuber.

The Journal Tribune, Williamsburg Iowa, Dec. 30, 2010, pg 3