Zuber, Ralph C.

Ralph C. Zuber, 90, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, at Colonial Manor of Amana following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 24, at Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana, with Elder Betsy Momany officiating. Burial will be in the High Amana Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 tonight at Middle Amana Community Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by two daughters, Susan Bickert of Troy, Ohio and Eileen Troxel (William) of St. Paul, Minn.; four grandchildren, Benjamin Bickert (Erin) of Homestead, Claire Troxel and Whitney Troxel of St. Paul, Minn., and Kelsey Godwin (Rickey) of Troy, Ohio; and four great-grandchildren, Ava and Ian Bickert of Homestead and Hayden and Brody Godwin of Troy, Ohio. Also surviving is his constant companion, Lorraine Schmid of East Amana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen in 1997; a sister, Lucille Leffingwell; and a brother, Elmer Zuber.

Ralph Charles Zuber was born Nov. 3, 1920, in West Amana, Iowa, the son of Charles and Dora (Hergert) Zuber. He graduated from Amana High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He married Helen Wendler on Nov. 4, 1945, at High Amana, Iowa. Upon returning from the Navy he attended Coe College. Ralph was employed at Amana Refrigeration as a plant manager and then worked at the Amana Furniture Shop as a production manager for many years.

Ralph's love of baseball began as a child when he earnestly followed the Chicago Cubs baseball team. His career began as a pitcher for the Amana Freezers, continuing with a short stint with the St. Louis Browns team. He always fondly recalled the day he “pitched to Babe Ruth.”

Ralph enjoyed golf and played many of the area courses. He loved to stay tuned into the stock market. He also spent many hours with his devoted cat Mitzi.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at

A memorial fund has been established.