Obituary of Ralph Francis Vaske

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Ralph F. Vaske, 80 of Dyersville, Iowa died Monday, June 17, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville, Iowa. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2013, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Raymond Burkle will officiate and Rev. Noah Diehm will concelebrate. Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Ralph was born May 30, 1933, in New Vienna, Iowa, the son of Edmund and Anastasia (Hermsen) Vaske. He served in the Army from 1954 - 1956. He married Mary Platten on June 7, 1956, in Colesburg, Iowa. Together they farmed near Garnavillo until they retired in 2002 and moved to Dyersville. Ralph will be remembered for his warm and caring heart. Survivors include his wife, Mary, 6 children: Diana (Wayne) Conrad of Davenport, Anita (Mike) Nemmers and Dennis (Ana) Vaske, both of Urbandale, Rick Vaske of Asbury, Ron (Ana) Vaske of Aurora, IL, and Janice Novick of Lisbon; 11 grandchildren: Nichole (Matt) Nutz, Christopher (Jennifer) Conrad, Blake Schultz, Melissa (David) Billings, Wes Nemmers, Audrey Vaske, Elena Vaske, Joel Perez, Ryan Vaske, Bianca Vaske, and Luka Novick; 5 great grandchildren; siblings: Doris Goedken of Earlville, Virgene Bockenstedt of Dyersville, Marvin (Pat) Vaske of Garnavillo and Charles D. (Donna) Vaske of New Vienna; brothers-and-sisters-in -law: Dolores Pasker of Dyersville, Florella Burkle of Farley, George (Judy) Platten of Colesburg, Bernadine (William) Koelker of Nevada, IA, Jeanette (William) Digmann and Roger Platten, all of Dyersville. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, Henry and Florentine Platten; and brothers-in-law: Martin Bockenstedt, Floyd Goedken, Arnold Burkle and Wilfred Pasker. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs of Oak Crest Manor and Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville for the care and comfort provided to our entire family, and especially Ellen LaPage for her care and frequent visits.