Ralph Adrian Syverson
January 3, 1928 — December 17, 2015
Ralph Adrian. Syverson, age 87, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria.
Funeral services honoring his life will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 23rd at Gladfelter Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Honors by the Ottawa Veterans Organization. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22nd at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be David Syverson II, Chad Johnson, Dennis McConnaughhay, Bill Entwistle, John Arwood and John Herr.
Ralph was born January 3, 1928 at Ottawa, Illinois, a son of Ralph Thomas and Evelyn Charlotte (Johnston) Syverson. He married Hazel Bernice Arwood on February 14, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Ottawa. She preceded him in death November 11, 2013. Surviving are his children, David Syverson of Utica, Ralph H. Syverson of Ottawa and Dianne (Dennis) Johnson of Littleton, Illinois. Also surviving are grandchildren, David Syverson, Jr., Elisa Herr, Stacy Syverson, Robin and Chad Johnson and Amber Macfarland.; great-grandchildren, Richard and Jade Syverson, Hunter Downey, Strawberry Rockford, Sierra and Shania Johnson, Bailey Herr and Annastasia Macfarland; and a sister, Charlene Marie (Syverson) Gaglirdo. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Bernard Syverson and Raymond Thomas Syverson; and one sister, Mary Josephine Syverson..
Ralph was a member of the First Baptist Church. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in which he earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze star, United Nations Service Medal and the Army Occupation Medal (Japan). Ralph was a retired employee of Libbey Owens Ford. He was a member of the American Legion, and Local 19. In his leisure time, Ralph enjoyed gardening, attending auctions and garage sales, collecting clocks, watching Wheel of Fortune and watching river activity at Allen Park. Memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church would be most appreciated.