Raymond Aupperle

Raymond Dean Aupperle was born in Anita, Iowa, February 24, 1938, to Oscar E. and Ellen R. (Maas) Aupperle. He entered into rest on May 9, 2009, at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Anita.

Ray grew up in the Massena area on his folk's farm. He graduated from Massena High School in 1956. After graduation, he worked for Nebola Wells, digging wells for a few years. He then ran his portable feed grinder for several years before starting to farm. He farmed until his death.

On May 26, 1957, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Jean Carlson at the Church of Christ in Anita. To this union four children were born; Terry Dean, Cliff Allen, Linda Kay and Erick Lee.

Ray was a volunteer fireman for the Massena Fire Department for 17 years and a Massena Township Trustee for 16 years. He was also a Crop Hail Adjuster, Night supervisor for Zion Recovery Center in Orient, IA, was a Little Britches Rodeo Board Member, a 4-H Leader, belonged to the Shirts and Skirts Square Dance Group, attended the community card parties, and was on the "chain gang" for his sons' high school football team. He was actively involved for many years at the Cass County Fair. Ray was a member of Pine Grove United Methodist Church.

Ray enjoyed wildlife hunting as well as trap shooting. He also spent several years going to Minnesota with his family and other families to enjoy boating, fishing and water skiing.

He started his sobriety in 1992 and would have celebrated 17 years this Father's Day.

Surviving Ray is his mother, Ellen Aupperle of Massena, IA; his wife, Phyllis Aupperle of Cumberland, IA; his children, Terry (Jacquie) Aupperle and their children, Ryan, Katie and Sidney all of Wiota, IA, Cliff (Julie) Aupperle and their children, Justin and Jessica, all of Wiota, IA, Linda (Jeff) Jurchen of Cumberland, IA, and their children, Teresa (Luke) and son, Jacob, Brandenburg of Russell, KS and Diane and Laura Jurchen, and Erick Aupperle of Atlantic, IA, and his children, Heather and Morgan. Also surviving Ray is his brother, Ronald (Maryann) Aupperle of Omaha, NE; his sister, Donna Claussen of Griswold, IA; a brother-in-law, Bud (Linda) Carlson of Atlantic, IA; sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Carlson of Ogden, IA, Betty Carlson of Long Grove, IA, and Donna Carlson of Greencastle, PA; many aunts, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Aupperle; his sister-in-law, Gladys Carlson; his brothers-in-law, Larry Claussen, Gaile Carlson and Marvin Carlson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa. Visitation with family will be from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 12th also at Hockenberry's in Atlantic. Burial will be in the Massena Township Cemetery, Massena, Iowa. The family is having a lunch and time for sharing stories at the Pine Grove United Methodist Church after the burial.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.