Ralph Schlegel

Daleville...Ralph Schlegel, 84, resident of the Daleville/Anderson area, passed away early Monday morning at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.He was born in Daleville, December 5, 1924, the son of Leroy D. and Grace Harmon Schlegel.He had lived most of his life in rural Delaware County and had been a dairy farmer, taking great pride in his Docile Jerseys.He had served on the Daleville School Board, Federal Land Bank, Mt Pleasant Cemetery association, where he had been board secretary for most of his adult life and Deacon and Elder of the Daleville Christian Church.He was a member of the Daleville Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis.He was a collector of kaleidoscopes and wooden toys and canes. He was a bell ringer for the church and a great story teller.He was a 1942 graduate of Daleville High School and attended Ball State University during WW 2.""He became an essential part of the war effort"" by working the family farm for his country.He was a loved father and husband and a skilled woodworker, in which he gave many of his creations to family and friends.He caned chairs and loved to metal punch.We celebrate his return to the creator.Survivors include his wife of 56 years: Marjorie Joann (Beeson) of Daleville, 5 children: Mrs. Jo Barrett (Norm) of Yorktown, Mr. Patrick Schlegel (Diana) of Daleville, Mrs. Susie Reed (Rodney) of Daleville, Mrs. Lee Lestick (Mark) of Winchester, VA, and Mrs. Betsy Zimmer (Michael) of Crown Point, IN, grandchildren: Molly and Sally Barrett, Daniel, Justin, and Laura Schlegel, Stephen, Gregory, Mathew and Amy Lestick, Maggie McKay and Morgan Zimmer, 1 sister: Elizabeth Walker of Fox River Grove, IL and several nieces and nephews.Besides his parent, he was preceded in death by 2 brothers: Robert Schlegel and Don Schlegel and 1 sister: Roberta Jones.Funeral services will be held on Saturday morning at 10:00 am at the Daleville Christian Church with Rev. Gary McManus officiating.Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, north of Daleville.Friends may call at the church on Friday from 4-8 PM with masonic memorial services at 7:00 at the church.Memorials may be made to the Daleville Christian Church.Arrangements had been entrusted to Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, Daleville Chapel.Online Guestbook at: www.ballardandsons.com