Harms, Ralph Lester

Ralph Lester Harms, 85, of 1650 Koehler Dr. NW, died at his home Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, after a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday, St. Jude Catholic Church, by the Rev. Mark Reasoner, with military services by American Legion Post 727. Burial: 3 p.m. Thursday, Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Teahen Funeral Home and after 9 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Sandi (Ronald) Zahradnik of Ely and Kathi Harms of San Antonio, Texas; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one stepgranddaughter; two stepdaughters, Peggy (Fred) Cobb of Whitehouse Station, N.J., and Kathleen Waters of Alameda, Calif.; sister-in-law, Helen Harms of Clear Lake; and several nieces and nephews.

Ralph was preceded in death by two brothers, Floyd, and twin brother Raymond; and one sister, Emma Callahan Shotton.

Ralph was born March 9, 1925, in Rockwell, the son of George and Helen Helms Harms. He married Madeline Elaine Winter on Sept. 26, 1948. She died April 23, 1974. He married Leone Marie Corkery on Oct. 11, 1975. She died Aug. 25, 2002. He married Margaret Mary Jones Carr on Oct. 15, 2004. Ralph retired in 1986, after 38 years from the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. as an independent company relations representative in the Cedar Rapids area. He was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church, Elks Club, and the Telephone Pioneers of America. He served as a Navy Radioman 3rd Class in both World War II and the Korean conflict.

Ralph was an avid fisherman, golfer, and enjoyed traveling. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and taking them fishing.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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