Obituary of Ralph Dasen

Ralph Nelson Dasen, the son of George and Dora Dasen, was born on February 12, 1930 in Ottosen, IA. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sanborn, IA. He attended grade school in Bode, IA, and graduated from Ottosen High School in 1948. Ralph served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He was married to Charlotte Jantzen on June 13, 1954 at St. John Lutheran Church, Boyden, IA. After their marriage they lived in Ames, IA where he attended Iowa State University under the G.I. Bill. In October, 1955, Ralph and Charlotte moved to Sanborn, IA, where Ralph was employed as a milk hauler for O’Brien County Co-op Creamery (later A.M.P.I.) from November 1, 1955 to March 1, 1992. He thoroughly enjoyed serving the dairy farmers of Northwest Iowa for 37 years. In 1958 the family moved to Sheldon, IA, until making their permanent home in Sanborn on November 30, 1963 to present. To this marriage four children were born: Jeffrey, James, Catherine and Anita. Ralph proudly served as Scout Master for Troop 156, Sanborn, for five years, and always enjoyed visits from former “Super Scouts” to reminisce. Visitors of all ages enjoyed his monorails, treehouses and swings. In his retirement, Ralph’s hobbies included beer-making, his 1948 John Deere, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and bicycling. He was a well-known fixture on his bike along the county roads and highways of Northwest Iowa, logging in 7,000 to 10,000 miles per year. A lifelong Democrat, look for an absentee ballot for Hillary 2016! He and Charlotte enjoyed camping and traveling, with the Rocky Mountains of Colorado standing out as a favorite destination. Ralph died at his home on August 14, 2014 at the age of 84 years, six months and two days, following a two year battle with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; four children: Jeffrey (Karla) Dasen of Scottsdale, AZ, James (Lisa) Dasen of Cedar Rapids, IA, Catherine (Jerry) Gray of Rochester, MN, Anita (Steve) Goetz of Fairbanks, AK; 10 grandchildren: Matthew Dasen of Scottsdale, AZ, Annie (Kory) Kubik of Urbandale, IA, Dr. Katerina Dasen of Santa Monica, CA, Amy (David) Ingram of Fairbanks, AK, Theresa (Drew) Zafft of Rochester, MN, Ryan Horstman of Seattle, WA, Emily Dasen of Ames, IA, Sarah Goetz of Fairbanks, AK, Brian Gray of Rochester, MN, and Stevie Goetz of Fairbanks, AK; and one great-grandson, Grant Kubik. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Anna Gray; son-in-law, Cpt. Randi Horstman; sisters: Dolda, Bernice, Sena, Evelyn, Gladys, Lorraine, Shirley, and Phyllis; and brother, Harry Dasen. Abiding by his wishes, Ralph’s body was donated for scientific purposes to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Family visitation will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sanborn, followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph’s memory to Iowa Chapter of The A.L.S. Association, or Sanford Hospice/Home Health of Sheldon.