Ralph Leslie DROLLINGER

DROLLINGER, CROY, PALMQUIST, CAMPBELL, WALKER, STRATMOEN, CANTIERI, GAWTRY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/24/2008 at 09:43:10

August 24, 2008
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

Ralph Leslie Drollinger, 86, of Fort Dodge, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Stephen Bibb officiating. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m. Monday at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge.

Ralph Leslie Drollinger was born Oct. 7, 1921, in Coburg, Iowa, the son of Gladys Fern Croy and Charles Lee Drollinger. He grew up in Kalona, Iowa, then attended the University of Northern Iowa before enlisting in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a sergeant in the 96th Infantry Deadeye Division and played tuba in the band. Upon his honorable discharge, he enrolled at the University of Iowa where he received his master's degree in music and married his first wife, Marion Margaret Palmquist, who also mastered in music. The couple had three daughters. Marion died in 1975. In 1977, he married Lila Campbell Walker.

He taught music in the towns of Goldfield, Sheffield, Eagle Grove, Manson and Fort Dodge. He directed the Ralph Leslie Band, and played in the Karl L. King Municipal Band, Bob Crosby's Bobcats, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Eddy Howard, Sammy Jensen, Orville Von Seggern, Everett Boyer, Eddie Skeets, John Morgan, Al Welsh, Don Glasser/Lois Costello Orchestra and the Fort Dodge Big Band and Dixie Kings. In his retirement he continued to play in bands and served as a judge for music contests. He loved to golf, travel, cheer for his Hawkeyes and play jokes on his grandchildren. His loving and inspirational spirit remained constant to the end. He will forever be remembered for his gentle nature, infectious humor and love for life.

He is survived by his wife; children and spouses, Judith Lynne (Drollinger) of Portland, Ore., Leslie (Drollinger) and Mark Stratmoen of Riverton, Wyo., Kimberly (Drollinger) and Paul Cantieri of Albuquerque, N.M., Rod and Debbie Walker of Des Moines, Joe and Brenda Walker of Grimes, and Paula (Walker) and Mark Gawtry of Ankeny; sixteen grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and brother Lyle. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.