Ralph Allen Eggerss

June 22, 1931 ~ December 26, 2013

VISITATION DETAILS

Monday, December 30, 2013

2:00-9:00 PM

United Lutheran Church

Shelby, IA

The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00-8:00 PM at the church

SERVICE DETAILS

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

11:00 AM

United Lutheran Church

Shelby, IA

Burial will be in the Shelby Cemetery, Shelby, IA

SURVIVORS

Wife – Joni Eggerss of Shelby, IA

2 Daughters – Kathy (Doug) Applegate of Oakland, IA

Michelle (Jonathan) Smith of Port Edwards, WI

1 Sister – Joyce (Tom) Rihner of Shelby, IA

1 Sister-in-law – Bonnie Eggerss of Shelby, IA

4 Grandchildren – Brent (Brittany) Applegate

Luke (Kate) Applegate

Jenifer Smith

David Smith

1 Great-grandson – Tristan James Applegate

Other Relatives & Friends

Ralph Allen Eggerss, the son of Paul Fred Carl and Helen Henrietta (Burmeister) Eggerss, was born on June 22, 1931, in rural Shelby, Iowa. He was educated in country schools and the Shelby schools, and graduated from Shelby High School in 1949. Ralph farmed with his father until he was drafted into the U.S. Army on November 18, 1953; he served in Germany and was discharged in October 1955. On February 3, 1957, he married Rhoda Joan “Joni” Miner in Avoca, Iowa. The couple farmed in the Shelby area until they bought their own farm in 1968; they retired from farming in September 2004. Ralph also did a lot of ag-related trucking in the Shelby County area.

Ralph was a member of the Untied Lutheran Church in Shelby, Iowa, where he had served on the church council. He was also a member of the Shelby American Legion Post #240. Ralph was an active baseball and basketball player who also enjoyed golf, bowling, snowmobiling, and snow skiing out west. He liked watching sports on television.

Ralph A. Eggerss died on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, at the age of 82 years, 6 months, and 4 days.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Paul Eggerss, Jr. and Ronald Eggerss; and one sister-in-law, Nadine Eggerss. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joni Eggerss of Shelby, Iowa; two daughters, Kathy (Doug) Applegate of Oakland, Iowa, and Michelle (Jonathan) Smith of Port Edwards, Wisconsin; one sister, Joyce (Tom) Rihner of Shelby, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Bonnie Eggerss of Shelby, Iowa; and four grandchildren, Brent (Brittany) Applegate, and great-grandson, Tristan James Applegate, Luke (Kate) Applegate, Jenifer Smith, and David Smith, and other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was held on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at United Lutheran Church in Shelby, Iowa, with Pastor Heather Ploen officiating. Nancy Armstrong served as the organist. Casket bearers were Jenifer Smith, David Smith, Luke Applegate, Jonathan Smith, Doug Applegate, and Brent Applegate. Burial was in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Shelby, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.