Ralph Cooklin

Ralph A. Cooklin, 86, died October 8, 2015 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at First Baptist Church in Jefferson. Words of comfort were given by Bob McKnight, Pastor, Church of Christ, Scranton.  Casket Bearers were Marty McDonald, Dustin McDonald, Davy Cooklin, Ryan Cooklin, Nick Gannon and Nathan Wedeking; Honorary Bearers were Kashia Cooklin, Nicki Montes, Tisha Gannon, Stephanie Wedeking,  Marci Bushman, Sara Mallicoat, Cassandra Bednarik, Shelby Cooklin, Hannah Cooklin, Tyler Cooklin, Brianna Hudson, Chayse Hudson, Glen Dillavou, Roger Carlson, Bob Pirie, Dwight Ozbun,    Lloyd Richards, RE Neill and Scott Neill. Music was by Sara Lentz, Soloist; Long Black Train and Go Rest High On That Mountain.  Interment was at Lanesboro Cemetery, Lanesboro.  Military Honors by United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Ralph was born January 16, 1929 in Farnhamville to Theodore and Edith Cooklin; he was the eleventh of twelve children.

In 1946, Ralph joined the United State Army Air Force, and was honorably discharged in 1947.  In 1951, Ralph was united in marriage to Ilene Dillavou at the Friends Church in Kendrick Township.  To this union was born three children; Randy in 1952, Gayla in 1954, and Kevin in 1956.  The family made their home in Scranton where Ralph farmed Ilene’s grandfathers ground.  They later rented farm ground from Clauson Land Company and in 1963 moved to a farm north of Spring Lake.  Ralph also had livestock and had a farrow to finish hog operation, cow calf operation, sheep, and horses.  In 1973, they bought a farm with a home and moved between Jefferson and Grand Junction.  Ralph and Ilene hosted a German exchange student with their son Randy during his senior year of high school in 1969-1970.

Ralph started to raise Limousin cattle with his sons.  He semi-retired and moved to Modena, Missouri and continued to raise Limousin cattle and custom bailed hay.  They lived in Missouri for 20 years before moving back to Jefferson in 2001.  Ralph loved to hunt and fish.  He use to take hunting trips to Wyoming and taught many of his relatives how to hunt.  He also enjoyed hunting pheasants and water fowl in southwest Iowa with his son-in-law Jeff and coon hunting while he was in Missouri with RE Neill.  In his later years he found a love of wood working and made many wood projects.  Ralph was a member of the Modena Baptist Church, where he was the Sunday school director.  He later joined the

First Baptist Church in Jefferson.  
He is survived by his wife Ilene Cooklin of Jefferson; his children:  Randy (Debra) Cooklin of Jefferson, Kevin (Bonnie) Cooklin of Jefferson and Gayla (Jeff) Hudson of Imogene, Iowa; brothers-in-law:  Glen (Carolyn) Dillavou of Boone and Russell Dillavou of Bandera, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchild; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, 11 brothers and sisters:  Esther, Ruth, Walter, Clarence, Nina, Teddie, Irene, Rolland, Evelyn, Eddie, and Jack.

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Jefferson Bee & Herald
Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161