116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Ralph Castle
RALPH CASTLE
Coralville
Ralph R. Castle, 84, of Coralville, died Sunday, March 16, 2014, at the Solon Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City, where there will
be a time of visitation one hour before services. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Cemetery in Anthon, Iowa.
Memorial donations may be made in Ralph's memory to Iowa City Hospice.
Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.
Ralph R. Castle was born Friday, April 5, 1929, in Fort Wayne, Ind., the son of Ralph and Loretta (Teders) Castle. At a young age, Ralph joined his father in the cattle business, spending a lot of time at the Chicago Stockyards. He later joined the Indiana Air National Guard and was transferred to Sioux City, Iowa, where he met his wife, Florence Fitzpatrick. They were married in 1954 in Moville, Iowa.
Ralph had been employed by the Sioux City Stockyards and Spencer Foods for many years as a cattle buyer. Ralph and Frances made their home in Wisconsin, Spencer, LeMars and Sheldon, Iowa. They had six children and enjoyed 44 years of marriage before Frances's death.
In 2001, Ralph moved to Coralville, where he remained until his death.
Ralph loved the outdoors and had an extensive collection of stockyard and cattleman items.
His family includes four children, Daniel Castle (Trese), Kevin Castle (Sheri), Ann Lohela and Vince Castle (Joan); grandchildren, Michael Castle (Jennifer), Elizabeth Trees (Justin), Brian Castle (Alyssa), Robert Castle, Lauren Castle, Kylie Bryson, David Lohela, Kathleen Lohela, Greg Castle, Eric Castle and Ben Castle; great-grand-children, Lillian, Timothy and Monica Castle, Brandon, Brock and Brody Trees, Addilyn, Emersyn and Isabelle Castle; and his two sisters, Patricia Burlage and Joan Sauer.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Frances; and their two sons, Thomas and Steven Castle.
Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Ralph's family and his services.
Daily Newsletters