Ralph Elmer Lausen (1931-2020)

LAUSEN, GUGE, ACORD

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 12/2/2020 at 08:10:12

Ralph Elmer Lausen was born in Emmet township on October 22, 1931, the son of Edwin and Louise (Guge) Lausen. He passed away on November 26, 2020 at Pearl Valley Rehab and Nursing Home, Estherville, Iowa.

Ralph lived all but 16 months of his life on the original Lausen home place. Ralph attended Emmet Consolidated rural school until the untimely death of his father in 1944, at which time he and his older brother, Harold, took over the family farm operation. Farming was in Ralph's blood and he worked the land until his retirement in 2010 at the age of 79.

On October 30, 1976 he was united in marriage to Patricia Acord in Estherville, Iowa.

Ralph drove school bus for Emmet Consolidated school in his young adulthood in addition to farming. He and his brother, Dennis, farmed together for many years, and also owned and operated Lausen Sno-Sports, the local Polaris snowmobile dealership, with Ralph providing his mechanical expertise in the shop. He enjoyed the competition of local radar runs and the chance to fine tune his sled "to a high pitched whine" as he called it. In his later years, his focus turned to antique tractor pulling. He enjoyed the restoration process, the challenge of competition and the fellowship he enjoyed with his peers. Ralph also sold seed corn and soybeans.

Ralph was a great debater and enjoyed spending time in the local coffee shops, elevators and commodity shop swapping stories and discussing current news events and local happenings. Ralph followed Twins baseball. He enjoyed spending time with his family, with his extended church family and friends, but mostly, he cherished the time he spent with his son, Andrew. Ralph went to long ends to teach Andrew what he knew about the land, the machinery used to work the land, the rhythm of the changing seasons, sharing his deep faith and building the special bond they shared.

Ralph was a member of the Grandview Baptist Church.

He is survived by his son, Andrew Lausen; his sister, Caroline Eigsti, of Friend, NE; a brother-in-law, Richard (Jennifer) Acord; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Pat, his parents, Edwin and Louise (Guge) Lausen, his brothers, Harold and Dennis, and a sister, Rosemary Browne.

The funeral service was held Monday, November 30, 2020 at the Grandview Baptist Church in Estherville with interment at East Side Cemetery in Estherville.

(Source: Henry-Olson Funeral Home, Estherville, Iowa.)