Schnepf, Ralph M. 1912-2004

SCHNEPF, MAJERES, ORBAN, DRECKMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/28/2009 at 16:57:47

LE MARS, Iowa -- Ralph M. Schnepf, 91, a lifelong Plymouth County farmer, of Le Mars died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, in Le Mars, following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine's Catholic Cemetery in Oyens, Iowa, with military rites conducted by American Legion, Wasmer Post 241 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joseph Dickman Post 3325. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a rosary at 4 p.m., a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m., and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 8 p.m., at the church. Visitation will resume one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Ralph Magnus Schnepf was born Dec. 24, 1912, on the family farm in Fredonia Township just northeast of Oyens, Iowa, the son of William and Helen (Majeres) Schnepf. He grew up near Oyens and attended St. Catherine's Parochial School. During World War II, Ralph served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He married Lois Orban on Aug. 18, 1952, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. Lois died on May 2, 1956. On Sept. 13, 1958, Ralph married Loretta Dreckman at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. Ralph was a lifelong farmer and cattle feeder in Fredonia Township. Ralph and Loretta moved into Le Mars in June of 1978, but Ralph continued to help with the farming and livestock with his sons until very recently.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, a life member of the Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council 1466 in Le Mars and a member of the Oyens Columbus Club. He was also a member of the American Legion, Wasmer Post 241, the World War II Last Man's Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joseph Dickman Post 3325 in Remsen, Iowa. Ralph enjoyed farming, traveling and gambling. He also enjoyed playing cards with his friends.

Survivors include his wife, Loretta Schnepf, of Le Mars; five children, Loren Schnepf and his wife, Sandy, of Le Mars, Helen Weber and her husband, Larry, of Merrill, Iowa, Bill Schnepf and his wife, Shannon, of Omaha, Neb., Charlotte Schnepf and her partner, Beth Johnson, of Santa Fe, N.M. and Richard Schnepf and his wife, Sharon, of Granville, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; a great-grandson; three sisters, Marian Fitzpatrick of Le Mars, Delores Flaherty and her husband, Bill, of Houston, Texas and Jane Even and her husband, Mike, of Alton, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Esther Schnepf of Cold, Minn. and Teresa Schnepf of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lois; an infant daughter; two brothers, Elmer and Magnus Schnepf; and two sisters, Harriet Ludwig and Helen Pick.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Nov. 8, 2004
~Part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection