SGT Ralph Leslie Drollinger

SGT Ralph Leslie Drollinger

Male 1921 - 2008  (86 years)

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  • Name Ralph Leslie Drollinger 
    Prefix SGT 
    Birth 7 Oct 1921  Coburg, Montgomery, IA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 22 Aug 2008  Ft. Dodge, Webster, IA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • http://messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/508359.html?nav=5011
      News > Obituaries
      POSTED: August 24, 2008
      (Photo of Ralph included)
      Ralph Leslie Drollinger, 86, of Fort Dodge, died Friday, Aug. 22,2008, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Stephen Bibb officiating. Visitation is from 4-7p.m. Monday at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge.
      Ralph Leslie Drollinger was born Oct. 7, 1921, in Coburg, Iowa, the son of Gladys Fern Croy and Charles Lee Drollinger. He grew up in Kalona, Iowa, then attended the University of Northern Iowa before enlisting in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a sergeant in the96th Infantry Deadeye Division and played tuba in the band.
      Upon his honorable discharge, he enrolled at the University of Iowa where he received his master's degree in music and married his first wife, Marion Margaret Palmquist, who also mastered in music. The couple had three daughters. Marion died in 1975. In 1977, he married Lila Campbell Walker.
      He taught music in the towns of Goldfield, Sheffield, Eagle Grove, Manson and Fort Dodge. He directed the Ralph Leslie Band, and played in the Karl L. King Municipal Band, Bob Crosby's Bobcats, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Eddy Howard, Sammy Jensen, Orville Von Seggern, Everett Boyer, Eddie Skeets, John Morgan, Al Welsh, Don Glasser/Lois Costello Orchestra and the Fort Dodge Big Band and Dixie Kings.
      In his retirement he continued to play in bands and served as a judge for music contests. He loved to golf, travel, cheer for his Hawkeyes and play jokes on his grandchildren. His loving and inspirational spirit remained constant to the end. He will forever be remembered forhis gentle nature, infectious humor and love for life.
      He is survived by his wife; children and spouses, Judith Lynne(Drollinger) of Portland, Ore., Leslie (Drollinger) and Mark Stratmoen of Riverton, Wyo., Kimberly (Drollinger) and Paul Cantieri of Albuquerque, N.M., Rod and Debbie Walker of Des Moines, Joe and Brenda Walker of Grimes, and Paula (Walker) and Mark Gawtry of Ankeny; sixteen grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
      In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and brother Lyle.
      Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
      Lauferweiler Funeral Home
      307 12th South Street
      Fort Dodge, IA 50501
      Phone - (515)576-3156
      FAX - (515)576-0027

      POSTED: August 24, 2008
      (Photo of Ralph included)
      Ralph Leslie Drollinger, 86, of Fort Dodge, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Stephen Bibb officiating. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m. Monday at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge.

      http://messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/508359.html?nav=5011
      News > Obituaries
      POSTED: August 24, 2008
      (Photo of Ralph included)
      Ralph Leslie Drollinger, 86, of Fort Dodge, died Friday, Aug. 22,2008, at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Stephen Bibb officiating. Visitation is from 4-7p.m. Monday at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge.

      Social Security Death Index about Ralph L. Drollinger Name: Ralph L. Drollinger
      Last Residence: 50501 Fort Dodge, Webster, Iowa
      Born: 7 Oct 1921
      Died: 22 Aug 2008
      State (Year) SSN issued: Iowa (Before 1951)
    Person ID I13544  Drollinger Genealogy
    Last Modified 24 Dec 2021 

    Father PVT Charles Lee "Charlie" Drollinger,   b. 4 Apr 1892, Shannon City, Union, IA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Sep 1983, Iowa City, Johnson, IA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 91 years) 
    Mother Gladys Fern Croy,   b. 22 Feb 1903, Montgomery County, IA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Jun 1984, Iowa City, Johnson, IA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years) 
    Family ID F5052  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Marion Margaret Palmquist,   b. 16 Aug 1922, NE Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Nov 1975 (Age 53 years) 
    Children 
     1. Judith Lynne "Judy" Drollinger
     2. Leslie Kay "Les" Drollinger
     3. Kimberly A. Drollinger
    Family ID F4407  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 14 Mar 2016 

    Family 2 Lila Campbell Laird 
    Family ID F5283  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 25 May 2017 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 7 Oct 1921 - Coburg, Montgomery, IA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 22 Aug 2008 - Ft. Dodge, Webster, IA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos




    1947




    Ralph and Marion - 1950

    1955





    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

    Ralph and Kavi

    Ralph on piano - 1978

    Ralph and his girls - 1956
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

    Ralph on piano - 1978

    Ralph and Kavi - 1987

    Ralph and Jenny - 1999

    Ralph and Matt - 1999
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

    Ralph and Hannah - 2004




















    Ralph - WWII



    1940s
    1940s



    Documents

    Letter written in 1957

    Obituary

    Headstones

    North Lawn Cemetery
    Fort Dodge, Webster, IA

  • Notes 
    • Ralph had three children, all girls, per his nephew, Guy L. Drollinger 26 Dec 2007.

      http://www.ralphldrollinger.com/Home_Page.php
      http://www.ralphldrollinger.com/uploads/10-24-1996SheffieldPress.PDF
      (Ref these websites for many photos and stories of Ralph's life.)

      Ralph Leslie Drollinger
      Home Page
      Stories
      Photos
      Letters and Articles
      Contact Us.
      Letters and Articles
      As a musician Ralph was commonly mentioned in the press and as a Grandfather of 16 he was a frequent writer of letter (or at least Lila was). I have posted a few articles and letters that I have found. Please add anything that I have missed.
      Ralph's Obituary was included in the August 24, 2008 Messenger Newspaper.
      On October 24, 2006 the Sheffield Press reported about the Band Shell Benefit which Ralph and Lesslie played.
      On June 1957, a six year old Judy Drollinger wrote a letter to her Mother and Daddy. I think this is a sweet way to remember Ralph as a father to three little (very grown up) girls.

      RALPH L DROLLINGER
      940 25TH ST FORT DODGE IA (515) 573-4036
      Born: Oct 1921
      LILA L DROLLINGER
      940 25TH ST FORT DODGE IA (515) 573-4036
      Born: Aug 1931

      LESLIE K DROLLINGER
      4135 TUCSON CT AMES IA
      Born: Apr 1953
      LESLIE K DROLLINGER
      1638 13TH AVE N FORT DODGE IA (515) 955-8186
      Born: Apr 1953