Funeral Service FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013, 10:30 AM OHDE FUNERAL HOME, MANNING, IOWA
Officiating PASTOR RICHARD FRANCIS UNITED CHURCH OF WESTSIDE
Music "BACHELOR FARMER" "THE EVENING TRAIN"
BRIAN JOENS, VOCALS AND GUITAR
CONNIE SIEPKER, ORGANIST
Casket Bearers: TROY GEHLSEN, RICHARD STOFFERS, MICHAEL HAGGE, SCOTT STOELK, JOHN WILLISON, DON OESER, KEVIN RICKE
Honorary Casket Bearers: WESLEY STOELK, RICHARD RICKE, EDMUND ERPS, JOHN OESER, DUANE VETTER, GENE THIEDEMAN, GERALD THIEDEMAN
Interment with Military Honors
AMERICAN LEGION ALFRED ROSSMAN POST 196
HAYES TOWNSHIP CEMETERY, WESTSIDE, IOWA

Ralph Peter, son of Peter Dietrich and Pauline Laura (Jahn) Gehlsen, was born April 30, 1931, on a farm near Westside in Crawford County, Iowa. He attended Westside schools and graduated from Westside High School. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea, attaining the rank of Sergeant. After his honorable discharge in 1955 Ralph returned to the area and farmed the land for 50 plus years. He was a longtime friend of the United Church of Westside.

Ralph was a member of the American Legion Post 196 in Westside, a 50-plus year member of Farm Bureau, a Hayes Township Supervisor and a 30 year member of Hayes Township Schuetzen Verein. In his spare time he enjoyed gun collecting and fishing.

In April of 2008 Ralph's health began to deteriorate and he entered the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in Manning. He died there on Monday, January 21, 2013, at the age of 81 years, 8 months, and 22 days.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Florence and husband Hugo Sander and Melvina and husband Edward Meyer; brothers: Ray Gehlsen and wife Lorraine; Leonard Gehlsen; Louie Gehlsen; and brothers-in-law Henry Stoffers; Lyle Joens; and Larry Hanson.

Ralph is survived by his sisters Blondina Stoffers of Carroll; Judy Joens of Manning; and Sandra Hanson of Manilla; brother, Reynold Gehlsen and wife Rose Ann of Denison; sister-in-law LaVonne Gehlsen of Manning; 27 nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.