Ralph Wakefield Greenlee, age 83, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Celebration of life services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Pastor Dave Schooley officiating. Military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will be held following the funeral service at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. Visitation will begin noon Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Masonic Lodge services will be held at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for the Alzheimers Association or the Central Park Community Center. Online condolences may be sent for Ralph's family through the web at
www.jonesfh.com
.
Ralph was born January 23, 1932, in Torrington, Wyoming, the son of Charles O. and Susan Marie (Clark) Greenlee. He graduated from Allerton High School. Ralph received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Iowa State University in Ames. While at Iowa State, Ralph was proud to have played in the Iowa State Marching Band. He was united in marriage to Ellene Joy Coats on June 24, 1950, in Allerton, Iowa. Ralph served honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Ralph and Joy have resided in Washington County since 1961.
Ralph farmed in the Brighton area for ten years. He also owned and operated the Farmer's Feed Store selling feed and seed. He later became the District Sales Manager for Jacques/Mycogen Seed Company where he served 22 counties in southeast Iowa until his retirement in1994. He was a member of Eicher Mennonite Church where he served as a Trustee and belonged to the Men's Brotherhood. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over fifty years, was a member of White Shrine where he was Past Watchman of Shepherds and was a former member of K.A.A.B.A. Shrine.
Ralph was an accomplished woodworker and cabinet maker. He donated many of his finished products to local charities for fundraisers. He was proud to have completed all of the "finish" work on a home, he and Joy built in Washington. He enjoyed being outdoors where he spent many hours camping and fishing and he enjoyed listening to Big Band and Marching Band music.
He is survived by his wife, Joy Greenlee of Washington, Iowa; son, Doug Greenlee and wife Joy of Eddyville, Iowa; son, David Greenlee and wife Ardi of Washington, Iowa; son Shaun Greenlee of Washington, Iowa; three grandchildren, Adam, Heather and Shara and seven great grandchildren.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents.