Red Junck

Ralph Ivan "Red" Junck, 83, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at his residence surrounded by his family.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Craig Bock officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Army Reserves. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Ralph was born Jan. 11, 1924, in Hinton, Iowa, the son of Claus and Anna (Prien) Junck. He moved from Hinton to Sioux City as a child with his family. He was a member of the first class to graduate from Leeds High School, the class of 1941.

He was employed with Sioux Bee Honey for 48 years, serving as plant manager for most of the time before retiring in 1990. His employment was interrupted while he served his country in the U.S. Army, where he served during World War II as a corporal with the 178th Engineering Combat Battalion.

He married Barbara Jean Baak on July 31, 1948, in Sioux City.

He was a long time member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, where he served in the church council at one time, as well as a coach for the church youth athletics. He also served as president of the Christian Youth Athletic Association. He was active in many sports through the years. He was an avid softball player in both slow and fast pitch. He was a renowned fast pitch pitcher. He continued to play softball until nearly 60 years of age. He loved spending time with his family and on his hobby farm.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; five children, Susan and her husband, Keith Davis, Ronald Junck and his wife, Linda, Judy and her husband Butch Gordon, Lana and her husband, Rex Fischer and Steven Junck and his special friend, Terri Cummings, all of Sioux City; two sisters, Shirley Junck and Lois Marquis, both of Sioux City; 13 grandchildren, Jason Davis and his wife, Karen, Tracie Moore, Nichole Davis and her special friend, Jeremy Cason, Quinten Junck, Justin Junck, Heather Gordon, Shane Gordon and his wife, Tiffany, Rick lake and his wife, Tina, Jenny Lake, Bobbi Lake, Kerry Taylor, Korey Taylor and Cole Junck; 18 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Merlin Junck and an infant brother; and three sisters, Alice Ruschmann, Joyce Rosene and an infant sister.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.