Ralph Carl Litterer

Greene - Funeral services for Ralph Litterer, 89, of Greene, will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 21, 2012, at the Church of the Brethren in Greene, with Pastor Ashok Patet officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, with military honors conducted by Tack-Barnett Post 268, American Legion of Greene.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at Reid's Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene, with a Scripture service at 7 p.m.
Ralph Carl Litterer was born on April 8, 1923, in Butler County, Iowa, the eldest of 12 children blessed to Theophil and Elsie (Witt) Litterer.
He entered eternal rest on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.
He received his education in country school. As a young man he worked as a farm hand. He was inducted into the United States Army Air Force on April 2, 1943, and served as an airplane mechanic. Ralph was honorably discharged on Feb. 20, 1946. Later he worked for Pooley's Implement and for Hamilton and Gabe.
On May 29, 1950, Ralph was united in marriage to Ardys Pauline Barth at the United Church of Christ Pleasant Hill in rural Nashua. This union was blessed with one daughter and two sons.
Ralph worked for Van Dyke Cars and Barth Chevrolet (for more than 20 years) before becoming self-employed as the owner of Ralph's Co-op Service. He retired at the age of 65, but for only one year. At the age of 66 Ralph became a city worker, working for Greene where he remained for the next 14 years. Following his true retirement at age 80 he remained active helping his family and friends build their homes or helping out with any work that needed to be done. He was a "Jack of all Trades" and mastered them all.
He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Greene where he served as a deacon, usher and maintenance man. Ralph was very active in church activities and with a cheerful heart was always willing to perform any duty presented to him.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ardys; one daughter: Jolene (Jason) Jenkins, Woodlawn, Tenn.; two sons: Douglas (Connie) Litterer of Greene, and Bruce (Jerilynn) Litterer of Woodlands, Texas; seven grandchildren: Tracy (Mike) Martzahn, Sara (Marty) Adelmund, Kristy (Jeremy) Hovde, Mandy (Richard) Frost, Melissa (Kevin) Blackwood, Shawn (Molly) Litterer, Megan (Michael) Travis; 16 great-grandchildren: Logan, Lucas, Brandon, Molly, Carly, Jacy, Lexy, Bryce, Brady, Braeden, Makenzie, Alivia, Hunter, Ethan, Ava, Aubrie; three sisters: Ruth Fisher, Nashua, Margret (Carl) Horengic, Upper Marboro, Md., Shirley (Dave) Rottink, Plainfield; six brothers: Paul (Mary) Litterer, Waverly, Wilbur (Marge) Litterer, Waverly, Richard (Ida) Litterer, Clarksville, Roger (Peggy) Litterer, Clarksville, Arnold (Yvonne) Litterer, Marble Rock, Bob (Sherry) Litterer, Clarksville; sister-in-law Ann Litterer, Waverly; brother-in-law: Mark Fisher, Charles City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Hulda Fisher, and brother, Lawrence Litterer.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Ralph Litterer Memorial Fund, c/o Reid's Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 219, Greene, Iowa.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Reid's Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene; 641-823-4457; www.reidsfuneralchapels.com.