Ralph E. Gradert, 84, of rural Cambridge, died Monday, June 23, 2008, at Hammond-Henry Hospital Extended Care, Geneseo.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 26, at Cambridge Lutheran Church. The Rev. Alfred Beck will officiate. Burial will be at Rosedale Cemetery, Cambridge. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Cambridge Chapel of Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services. Memorials may be made to Cambridge Lutheran Church or the Osco-Andover Fire Protection District.
Ralph was born Nov. 11, 1923, in Cornwall Township, Henry County, the son of Louis and Elsie Rahn Gradert. He was educated in rural Cornwall Township schools. His marriage to Helen Nelson took place on Feb. 22, 1947, in Orion. The couple farmed near Geneseo and moved to their present farm in Andover Township in 1953. Ralph was a well-known farmer and continued the Gradert family tradition of feeding quality livestock.
His memberships included Cambridge Lutheran Church and the Henry County Livestock Feeders Association. He was a trustee on the board of the Osco-Andover Fire Protection District for a number of years. Ralph enjoyed playing cards, golf, farming and family gatherings.Survivors include his wife, Helen; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Joy Gradert, and Roger and Bobbi Gradert, all of Cambridge; five grandchildren, Keith (Melissa) Gradert, Annette Gradert and Kindra, Renee and Aubrey Gradert. Also surviving are four stepgrandchildren, Heather (Jim) Weber, Brian (Cindy) Eilers, Danielle (Tom) Frank, Nichole (James) Gorman; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters, Bessie Weber and Nellie Mandel, both of Geneseo; and a brother, Donald Gradert, Geneseo. His parents, nine brothers and sisters, and a stepgranddaughter, Shawna Sloma, preceded him in death.
A video tribute may be viewed and condolences expressed by visiting Ralph's obituary at www.stackhousemoore.com.