Ralph Edward Siefken
Born: September 17th, 1924
Died: June 3rd, 1999
Obituary
Ralph Edward Siefken, 74, of Burlington, died at 9:26 a.m. Thursday, June 3, 1999, at Burlington Medical Center. Born September 17, 1924, in Burlington, he was the son of Chester R. and Helen T. Vorwerk Siefken. He married Jane McLaughlin on July 18, 1944, in Burlington. Mr. Siefken had worked at Leopold's, Sunshine Dairy, Burlington Broom Co., Burlington Foundry, and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, and United Commercial Travels. He loved making beautiful wood craft items. Survivors include his wife; six sons, Gene, Ray, Bob, Dan, and Roger Siefken, all of Burlington, and Tom Siefken of Rockford, Ill.; three daughters, Mary Ann Neff and Joanne Cook, both of Burlington, and Carol Wagler of New London; two brothers, Wilfred and Verdon Siefken;, both of Burlngton; one sister, Margaret Walljasper of Yarmouth; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers, two sisters, and one granddaughter. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday in Lunning Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and there will be a Christian wake service at 7 p.m. The funeral for Mr. Siefken will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Patrick Lumsden officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the American Cancer Society and the Iowa Lion's Eye Bank.