Ralph Koenigsfeld

Ralph J. Koenigsfeld age 83 of New Hampton, formerly of Ionia, died Friday, November 24, 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Ionia, with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Lector for the service will be Florence Tilkes. Interment will be in the church cemetery with T.J. Schnoebelen, Jim Hanson, Rob Bomstad, Clint Dockendorf, Steve Cerwinske, Mark Vanek and Richard Crooks serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Koenigsfeld, Matt Cerwinske, David Vanek, Mike Cerwinske and Matt Vanek Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the church on Wednesday. Ralph Joseph Koenigsfeld was born February 5, 1934, on the family farm near Ionia, IA, the son of Clarence and Anna (Gerber) Koenigsfeld. He was the second of four children in the Koenigsfeld family. He received his education at St. Boniface Grade School and High School in Ionia. As a young man, he worked with his parents on the farm and enjoyed showing his cattle. While going to a dance at the former Riveria Ballroom in Janesville, IA, he met his future wife, Carolyn Vanek of Nashua. Ralph and Carolyn were married on June 6, 1964, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Nashua. To this union four daughters were born. Ralph and Carolyn initially lived on a rented farm before moving to the family farm southeast of Ionia. While farming and raising their family, Ralph also worked at the former Supersweet Plant in New Hampton and the former White Farm Equipment Company in Charles City. Carolyn died on January 3, 1991 at the age of 50. Ralph will be remembered by his family as a hardworking and smart man who enjoyed the simple parts of life. He enjoyed reading, playing cards, Ionia Bingo, and traveling to various casinos with his special friend, Darlene McGowan. He will be remembered for his story telling, wit, and dry sense of humor. But most of all, he loved and was proud of his family; especially, his daughters and grandchildren. Ralph is survived by his four daughters, Maria (T.J.) Schnoebelen of New Hampton, Lisa (Jim) Hanson of Kansas City, MO, Gina (Rob) Bomstad of Siloam Springs, AR and Sara (Clint) Dockendorf of Rochester, MN; six grandchildren, Faith Bomstad, Sydney Bomstad, Brock Hanson, Grant Hanson, Claire Dockendorf and Will Dockendorf; one brother, Edward (Shirley) Koenigsfeld of Waterloo; two sisters, Ruth Stark of Santa Barbara, CA and Evelyn (Matt) Cerwinske of Minneapolis, MN; and one brother-in-law, David (Gretchen) Vanek of Pocatello, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a brother in infancy; a brother-in-law, Leo Stark; and, special friend, Darlene McGowan.