Ray Ralph Steinhoff

MOVILLE, Iowa -- Ray Ralph Steinhoff, 87, of Moville died Friday, April 25, 2008, at his daughter's residence in Moville.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moville, with the Rev. James Berka officiating. Burial will be in Arlington Township Cemetery, Moville. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith McCulloch Chapel in Moville. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com .

Ray was born Dec. 15, 1920, the oldest of eight siblings, in the Smithland area, the son of Ralph and Pearl (Sulsberger) Steinhoff. He attended school at the Oto High School.

He married Frances Dicks on March 2, 1943, in Dakota City. She died on Nov. 20, 2001. The couple farmed near the Oto and Smithland area. They moved to Climbing Hill, Iowa, and rented a farm in 1954. In 1974, they bought a farm from Ernest and Elvira Meents outside of Climbing Hill. Later, in January 1997, they moved to Moville. Ray was a retired farmer. He attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Moville.

The profession he chose was farming, and he enjoyed it very much. His dream was to farm until he was 80, and that almost happened. Retirement came at 79 instead. He always wanted to be a race car driver or a jockey. His hobby was driving his car, and he really enjoyed it; the faster, the better.

His life was lived in service. Whenever anyone needed him, he dropped whatever he was doing and helped them. He was always there for his family and friends. The memorial he left behind wasn't in material things but in the way he lived his life. He never tolerated lying or laziness. Honesty was always first and foremost. As a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he never missed an event that his daughter, grandchildren or great-grandchildren participated in.

The lessons he taught were very simple and basic. If you don't have the money, you don't need it. Don't spend more than you make. Always take time for people. Never own a charge card. But at 82, when he tried to apply for a Sears charge card and got turned down because he had no credit, that made him furious so he tried applying at several charge card companies. After being rejected by all, he ended up going to the bank and having them get him one. Then he could charge all of $10 worth of gas each month so they wouldn't cancel him.

He was very witty and always told you what was on his mind. You never had to guess what he was thinking.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Susan and Roger Christiansen of Moville; two grandchildren, Staci and husband, Justin Ronfeldt of Moville, and their children, Alex, Makenzie, Payge and Blake, and Ryan Christiansen of Des Moines; a brother, Everett Steinhoff and his wife, Booty of Trenton, Mo.; and three sisters, Lucille Johnk of Texas, Toots Evers and her husband, Bernie of Lawton, Iowa, and Shirley Geise of Glenwood, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Pearl Steinhoff; his wife, Frances; two brothers, Clifford and Orval "Bud"; and a sister, Thelma Steinbach.