Ralph Phipps 1919 - 2009

PHIPPS, MATSON, WASSINK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/30/2019 at 21:58:28

Onawa Democrat
15 April 2009

Ralph Phipps, son of Lee and Mollie (Matson) Phipps, was born September 12, 1919 in rural Onawa, Iowa. He passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at Elmwood Care Centre in Onawa at the age of 89.

Ralph was raised in rural Onawa and attended country school. On November 30, 1940, Ralph was united in marriage to Janette Ardith Wassink in Elk Point, South Dakota. To this union three children were born: Gerald, Donna, and Joyce. The family made their home on a farm near Castana. Ralph farmed, trucked, and did custom farming until retiring in 1994. Ralph and Janette made their home in Onawa before moving to Whiting in 2000. They moved to Iowa City and Janette passed away on January 21,2008. In recent months, Ralph has made his home in Onawa.

Ralph was a member of the Castana Community Church of Christ.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janette; son, Gerald; son-in-law, Kirby Norman; four brothers: Donald, Russell, Glen, and Harold; and two sisters: Helen in infancy and Ethel Bergstrom.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two daughters: Donna Norman of Iowa City, IA and Joyce Gibbs and husband Gary of Ute, IA; one daughter-in-law, Sandy Phipps of Blencoe, I A; five grandchildren: Jodi Phipps and Rusty Collison of Blencoe, Jami Phipps of Blencoe, Bryon Gibbs of Omaha, NE, Cheryl Mordhorst and husband Mike of Soldier, IA, and Trevor Norman and wife LaDonna of Dallas, TX,; six great grandchildren: Dylan and Jordan Collison, Bryon, Allyson, and Joshua Mordhorst and Megan Gibbs; one sister, Betty Kallenbach and husband Cliff of Dallas, OR; one sister-in-law, Ruby Phipps of Onawa; numerous nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 11, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at the Castana Community Church of Christ in Castana, Iowa. Officiating was Pastor Harvey Hanson. Music by Patsy Petersen as Organist and Becky Marcum as Vocalist. "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "Precious Memories". Congregational Hymn "How Great Thou Art" and Recorded Selection "These Hands".

Pallbearers were Rusty Collison, Gary Gibbs, Don Phipps, Clarence Phipps, Mike Mordhorst and Barry Erickson. Interment was at Belvidere Cemetery of Turin, Iowa. Professional Services by Pearson Funeral Home of Onawa.