Ralph Paul Nissen

Ralph Paul Nissen went home to be with the Lord on May 21, 2011. After battling cancer since 2003, Ralph passed away at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames. A private burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Garner, Iowa. A memorial service will be on Thursday, May 26 at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames.

Born to Jean (Purcell) and Paul Nissen in Des Moines on March 15, 1930, Ralph was the oldest of six children. Ralph grew up in Perry and moved with his family to Mason City, when he was in high school. After graduation, Ralph went on to attend North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City for two years. He met his wife, Irma Leanna (Boehnke) Nissen in Mason City. They were married on January 28, 1951, during a winter storm. They settled in Ames afterwards, and Ralph graduated from Iowa State University in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education. Ralph and Irma had five children. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

Ralph worked at WOI in the prop department, ISU Extension service in Ankeny, and Pamline in Emmetsburg. He also worked for 20 years at Bourns in Ames, and ISU Physical Plant for 20 years until his retirement.

Ralph loved music and learned to play the trumpet. He participated in the Iowa State Marching Band while attending college.

Working with wood and refinishing furniture in his free time was something Ralph loved to do. He was very handy and seemed to be able to fix just about anything around the house. Every spring he would look at his seed catalogs and get ready to plant his garden. Fishing was a hobby he developed later in life. Although he never caught the biggest fish, he did enjoy the time he spent fishing. Ralph worked as a volunteer at Mary Greeley Medical Center for years.

Family was important to Ralph and he loved to have the kids and their families come home throughout the year. Holidays he especially wanted everyone to come home because he loved to have everyone there.

Ralph and Irma have attended Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames since the beginning of their life together in Ames. It was his church home and he loved to go. Ralph also attended the men’s weekly Bible Study.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Irma, of Ames; five children, Jonathan (Wendy) Nissen, of St. Louis Park, MN, Beth (Randy) Wilhelms, of Utica, SD, Richard (Erin) Nissen, of St. Louis, MO, Robin (Jeff) Groshek, of Neenah, WI, and Martha (Gary) Flick, Los Lunas, NM; ten grandchildren; one great grandchild; and brothers and sisters, Arlen Nissen, Janet Diddy, Marian Nissen, Marilyn Iyengar, and Larry Nissen. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Donations may be made to the Bliss Cancer Center in memory of Ralph Paul Nissen.

Condolences may be sent to www.stevensmemorialchapel.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Stevens Memorial Chapel, Ames, IA.