Ralph Otto Anderson

Ralph O. Anderson 1924-2024

Obituary

Ralph Otto Anderson, 100, left this earth to join his heavenly bride, Thelma, just in time to celebrate their 82nd wedding anniversary.

Services for Ralph O. Anderson will be held Thursday, December 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, IA. He will be laid to rest at Marietta Cemetery. A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 4 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. also at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers/plants, memorials may be designated to Iowa River Hospice, State Center Fire & EMS, or West Marshall School Foundation. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Born October 6, 1924, Ralph was the youngest of four children born to Carl and Emma (Johansson) Anderson of rural LaMoille. He remained forever young his entire life. Family and friends would often comment on his youthful spirit and how he never seemed to age.

He had a love for basketball and found his sweetheart, Thelma, in high school where the two both played the sport. They were married on November 30, 1942, in Princeton, Missouri. In 1943, when he was 18 years old he was drafted by the Armed Services. However, he received a two year deferment as he was assisting his father-in-law on the farm.

On July 6, 1945, Ralph arrived in San Francisco, CA, on a troop train and then boarded a troop ship heading to the Pacific. “They never told us where we were heading,” Ralph said. “We were on the water for 20 days. Then they told us the atomic bomb had been dropped. We had no idea what an atomic bomb was.” This was August 6, 1945.

His troop arrived in Nagoya, Japan, to occupy the country. Eventually, he was stationed in Nara, Japan. Ralph was in a motor pool working on military vehicles. One day, the Jeep and pit area he was working in exploded in fire. With severe burns on his hands, face and his skin above his combat boots, he laid in the hospital in Osaka for 2 ½ months.

Ralph was released from military service in the fall of 1946. He returned to farming first helping his brother-in-law and the next year started farming on his own. His wife, Thelma, had saved up $600 while he was in service and he bought his first Ford, Ferguson-system tractor. He also bought a cultivator for $50 and a plow for $50.

For 75 years, he dedicated his life’s work to caretaking of his family's Iowa farmland and raising cattle and hogs in the farming operation. Even at 97, he took the night shift post to watch the grain dryers. His love of farming was matched by his love of Las Vegas. He and Thelma purchased their Vegas home in 1977 and enjoyed many years with friends and family playing in the Vegas valley and watching the city grow.

Ralph is survived by his daughters, Audrey (late Doug) Goecke of State Center, Sally (Don) Wogen of Pella, and daughter-in-law, Susan (late son Denny) Anderson of State Center. Five grandsons, 9 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson brought ROA great joy: Bill Goecke, Charlie Goecke, Darin (Michelle) Wogen, Brian (Angie) Wogen, Erin (Taryn) Anderson, McKinze (Tyler) Rue, Jake (Kaitlin) Goecke, Andrew Wogen, Alyssa Wogen, Elizabeth Wogen, Emerson Wogen, Adalyn Anderson, Alyvia Anderson, Andrea Anderson, and Nick Rue.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers (Harry and Levi), a sister (Ruth Peterson) son, Denny Anderson and son-in-law, Doug Goecke.

- Lovingly written by the family