Ralph Duree

Another Good Man from the Greatest Generation has left this world.

Ralph “Toad” Duree, 84, of Eldridge, Iowa, died Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Chambers Funeral Home in Eldridge. Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the services on Saturday at the funeral home. Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded following the services. Memorials may be made to the family which will be used for various charities.

Ralph was born to Harry and Rebecca Duree on July 5, 1927 in Woodburn, Iowa. Ralph was born into a large loving family and he had seven brothers and sisters.

Ralph married Kathleen J. Hardesty in 1948 and they had two children from this union. Ralph and Kathleen later divorced in 1954. He then married Marian Burkhead in 1957. Marian brought three children into their family and they had a son together. Marian preceded him in death on January 2, 2010

Ralph possessed many great qualities that caused all who knew him to regard him as a “Good Man” He had integrity, and his word meant something. Ralph understood the meaning of hard work and he worked very hard to take care of his family. Ralph was both a very strong, and a very gentle man, and he had many great life-long friends. He was immensely kind, and his reputation is that of a “true gentleman”. Ralph was humble, giving and incapable of judging anyone. He smiled easily and his laugh was both sweet and sincere. To know this man was to know what kindness, unconditional love, compassion, and understanding truly mean, and in that we all knew and loved the same remarkable man who enriched our lives beyond measure.

Ralph served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. Ralph was a butcher by trade; he worked for Oscar Myers in Davenport, Iowa for 33 years. He then drove the big yellow school bus for North Scott Community School District for 15 years. Ralph enjoyed fishing, gambling and riding motorcycles.

Those left to honor his memory include: two daughters, Dr. Cheryl Duree, D.C. and her husband Ben and Mari Renée Duree, both of Grand Junction, CO; one son, Ralph H. Duree of Eldridge; two step-daughters, Diane Ashe and her husband Ron of Spring Hill, TN and Kathleen Smith and her husband Gary of Rock Island, IL; one step-son, Dale Burkhead and his wife Randa of Muscatine, IA; one granddaughter, Tasha May Duree; one great granddaughter, Lacee Kilgore; two sisters, Naomi Sly and her husband Jim of Davenport, IA and Teresa Patterson and her husband Junior of Lucas, IA.

In addition to his wife Marian, Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Kelly Jo Fay; three sisters, Lauren Smith, Betty Swan and Billy Burgess; two brothers, Leo and Joe Duree.

We know that he was proud of all of us, just as we are all proud to have had him as our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother, and brother-in-law.