Ralph "Red" W. Leymaster

Ralph Leymaster, 92, of Waterloo, died Sunday, December 13, 2015, at Lakeview Landing, Waterloo. He was born March 11, 1923 in Aurora, Nebraska to Stewart and Tillie Groelz Leymaster. He graduated from Aurora High School in 1940. The family moved to Cedar Falls in the fall of 1940. Ralph worked as a hired hand until the spring of 1947 when he started farming. He married Maxine Nieman on December 3, 1947 at the First Evangelical United Brethren Church in Cedar Falls. They farmed in the Cedar Falls Township for 56 years. On September 1, 2000 they moved to Friendship Village in Waterloo. Maxine preceded him in death January 13, 2005. He married Mary Helen Rousselow October 29, 2005 and she preceded him in death July 20, 2013. Ralph was actively involved in EUB church work, the volunteer fire department , Black Hawk County 4-H, the Black Hawk County Extension Services and many agricultural organizations.

He is survived by five sons, Ron Leymaster of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Kreg (Jane) Leymaster of Estes Park, Colorado, Rusty Leymaster of Cedar Falls, Mark (Brenda) Leymaster of Long Beach, California, and Mike (Ann) Leymaster of Walford, Iowa; nine grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren (with the 18th on the way); sister-in-law, Delores Nieman of Cedar Falls, and a brother-in-law, Gordon (Jeanette) Nieman of Cedar Falls; special friends Vernon Robbins of Decatur, Georgia and Wihi Stevenson of Kaitaia, New Zealand. He is also survived by six stepchildren; Jonell (Bruce) Woolsey of Chandler, Arizona, Margaret (John) Wolfe of Waterloo, Lou Ann (Scott) Wagner of Virginia Beach, Virginia, David (Pam) Rousselow, Dale Rousselow, and Scott (Amy) Rousselow, all of Waterloo; fifteen step grandchildren and thirteen step great grandchildren.   Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Robert; first wife, Maxine; second wife, Mary; one sister, Gladys Hograbe; two brother-in-laws, Kenneth Nieman and Harry Hograbe.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 18, 2015 at South Waterloo Church of the Brethren in Waterloo. Burial will be prior to service at 9:15 a.m. in Fairview Cemetery in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls. Memorials may be directed to South Waterloo Church of the Brethren, Cedar Valley Hospice and Friendship Village Auxiliary. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.