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Ralph Sienknecht
RALPH SIENKNECHT
Clutier
Ralph Lee Sienknecht, 80, of Clutier, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednes-day, Jan. 21, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama. Interment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery, rural Toledo, with military honors. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Ralph was born Feb. 7, 1934, in Gladbrook, Iowa, the son of John and Katie (Linder) Sienknecht. He graduated from Clutier High School in 1952. On Aug. 24, 1953, he was united in marriage to Pauline Riha at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining.
Ralph served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict for 16 months. He recently had the privilege of going on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in October 2014. Ralph was a volunteer fireman for 41 years at the Clutier Fire Department.
He worked at Sienknecht Implement in Clutier as a mechanic for many years and drove school bus for Clutier and North Tama school district for 56 years.
He also tilled many gardens. Allis Chalmers lawn tractors were his love. He also enjoyed going to auctions and was a scout master for many years for Troop 306 in Clutier. He attended a lot of parades in his red Ford Galaxy convertible and Allis Chalmers tractor. Ralph always led the Clutier cruise. He loved working with children and was always there to lend a hand if needed.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Pauline, of Clutier; one brother, Leslie (Pauline) Sienknecht of Clutier; two sisters, Rosemarie Welton of Cedar Rapids and Peg (David) Dvorak of Elberon; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents; four brothers, Lyle, John, Bill and James Sienknecht; a half brother, Lorenz Sienknecht; two half sisters, Violetta Sienknecht and Ada Krutzfeldt; and a nephew, Dwight Sienknecht.
Memorial funds will be established and the family will direct them at a future date.
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