Ralph Richard Pierce was born September 14, 1922 the son of Arthur and Sara (Ireland) Pierce, at the family farm near Oakland, Iowa. Ralph died August 1, 2013 at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home in Oakland, at the age of 90 years, 10 months, and 18 days.

Ralph attended elementary school for eight years at Washington #6, across the road from his home and then graduated from Oakland High School with the class of 1939. On December 30, 1945 he was united in marriage to Junellyn Scheffler and they were the parents of one son, Steven.

Ralph farmed all of his life and lived in the same farm house he was born in. The family joke was that he moved from the upstairs boys' bedroom to the downstairs bedroom when he got married.
He enjoyed the land and the crops. He raised hogs and fed cattle. One of his joys was to see a load of Black Cattle at the bunks, and he liked to go to cattle sales. He loved his family, and especially liked having his grandchildren and great grandchildren close by. He was an avid reader. He especially liked westerns, and had read nearly all of the Louis L'Amour books.

Ralph was a member of the Oakland United Methodist Church, Farm Bureau, and the Masonic Lodge. He served on the school board at the country school and was President of the Oakland School Board when the Elementary School was built. He was a 10 year leader of the Westside Feeders 4-H Club and was an honorary member of that group. In 1996, he was awarded an Honorary Cattle Feeder award. In 2012, he and his wife were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters: Edna Pierce, Mary Kunze, and Helen Underwood; and his brothers, Fred Pierce and Robert Pierce.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Junellyn of Oakland; his son Steven Pierce and wife Marge of Oakland; his granddaughters, Kris Roberts and husband Scott of St. Charles, MO, and Kerri Wede and husband Joe of Oakland; his great-grandchildren: Courtney and Zachary Roberts and Sara and Lydia Wede; his sister Mildred Beatty and husband Bill of Atlantic, IA; and his brother-in-law Donald Scheffler and wife Fay of Oakland. Ralph is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Oakland United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will be held on Sunday at the Oakland United Methodist Church from 5-7 PM. Interment will be at the Oaklawn Cemetery. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.