Ralph Leroy Jackson

Ralph Leroy Jackson CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--Ralph Leroy Jackson, 88, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Muscatine, Iowa, passed away on Friday, August 30, 2013, at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2013, at Memorial Park Cemetery with full military rites by the combined units of the V.F.W. Post 1565 and the American Legion Post 27. Services will be held following burial at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Muscatine. Following the service, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at the George M. Wittich Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. Memorials may be directed towards Muscatine Public Library, Musser Art Museum, Sister Cities, and First Presbyterian Church. Ralph was born on April 8, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. Ralph was the son of the late Walter Jackson and Idella Coddington Jackson. His family moved to Missouri Valley, in 1940. He graduated from high school at age 17 in 1942. At age 18 he registered for the draft with the U.S. Army. Ralph was a Veteran...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

World War II serving in the 14th Armored Division 36th Tank Battalion, (The Liberators), in France and Germany. Following his military service, he earned a degree in Engineering under the G.I. bill from the University of Iowa. On August 14, 1949, Ralph was united in marriage with Marilyn "Lyn" E. Harris in Muscatine. After graduation in 1950 he joined Stanley Engineering Company in Muscatine. His career with Stanley Consultants spanned 37 years as a registered electrical (power plant), mechanical and computer engineer. He was instrumental in establishing the first computer department at Stanley's. He was also a board member of Friends of the Library and active in Toastmasters and Muscatine Sister Cities, United World Federalists, AARP Tax Aide, SHIIP, Score and First Presbyterian Church and many other local and international affiliations. He enjoyed traveling worldwide, stamp collecting golfing, fishing trips to Canada, meeting army buddies each year at the annual reunions and high school friends at each 5-yr reunion. His biggest achievement of his 88 years was his 63 years of marriage to his wife, Lyn. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Lyn Jackson of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Ann E. Drahos and husband, Don, of Cedar Rapids, and Jennifer J. Peters and husband, Bruce, of Eagan, Minnesota; and six grandchildren, Damon Harris (Elizabeth) Drahos, Megan Elizabeth (Jonathan) Hoffman, Heather Ann (Ryan) Ayers, Shawn Steven Peters, Candice Jane Peters, and Eric Alan Peters; and three great-grandchildren, Steven Decker, Erika Decker and Brooklyn Drahos. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Steven Ralph Jackson; and siblings, Cecil Jackson, Paul Jackson, Virginia Hickey, Francis 'Sonny' Jackson.