ZELLER, Ralph

Ralph Harold Zeller, 77, of Sun City passed away June 2, 2015. Born in Minnesota, named after his uncle, he attended Holy Trinity Catholic elementary and middle school in Rollingstone, MN before moving to Monona, IA graduating in 1956. Also, a 1966 graduate of UW in Platteville. Veteran of the US Marines & Iowa Air Guard & USAFR retiree. Probation Officer, social worker, & a Bureau of Indian Affairs Liaison Officer assisting Meskwaki Tribe near Tama. Bondurant-Farrar science teacher 1970-83. Formed an Ecology Club planting trees on campus; these are now giants and obscure the sewage lagoon. ISU Science Teacher of the Year, Teachers Association President, Little League coach, mechanic, truck driver, police officer, Doberman breeder, Boy Scout troop founder & leader, nutrition counselor, MidWest Diet Center company president, columnist, author. In 1987, moved their business to AZ. Ralph was preceded in death by his youngest son: Joseph William; parents Joseph J. & M. Marie Quigley Zeller; paternal grandparents Marcus & Mary Ann Dahman Zeller Kline; maternal grandparents Michael & Mary Weigert Quigley; siblings: Joseph Marcus, infants Mary & Catherine, Hilary, Donald Francis, & 1st cousin Joan. Ralph is survived by his spouse C. JoAnn, sons Jeffrey Ralph & Sidney Grant, grandchildren: Jeffrey Michael, Julie Elizabeth, Emily Catherine, and Jeremiah Matthew; siblings James Ervin and Marcena Kline; and first cousin Jean Zeller; many wonderful nieces, nephews, and distant cousins, and a Native American foster daughter, Ida Potter. Ralph loved traveling. He visited over 40 states, 22 countries, sailed the Panama Canal, visited Christ’s birthplace & tomb, renewed his marriage vows where Jesus turned water into wine, danced like no one was watching in Jamaica, ate fried bugs in Vietnam, skipped stones in Guantanamo Bay, admired pyramids in Egypt, hiked the Grand Canyon, safari’d in South Africa, danced in the Indian Ocean, used coconuts as currency on San Blas Island, was baptized in the Jordan River, island hopped in Hawaii, whitewater rafted Snake River, fought paint ball battles, & fed Yellowstone bears. Ralph made others smile daily with his infectious laugh. He was happiest telling humorous stories. He helped thousands improve the quality of their lives. Celebration of Life at Cedar Memorial Park, 4200 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA (1st building on the left) from 6-9pm on 27 June 2015. Mass on 29 June at 10:30am at St Jude Catholic Church located at 50 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405. Ralph will be interred at St Joseph Cemetery at 800 Sisley Grove Rd, Cedar Rapids. Ralph will be laid to rest next to his infant son, his parents, and his brother Donald and sister-in-law Eleanor. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Ralph’s name to continue his public service to others. Contributions can be sent directly to JoAnn.
Posted by Sidney G Zeller on June 06, 2015

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