Obituary of Ralph Vondrak

Ralph Oliver Vondrak passed away on June 10, 2024 in Simi Valley, California at the age of 92.  He was born at home on December 26, 1931 on the “home place” Hinton (Plymouth County) Iowa, to Joseph Albert Vondrak and Edna Elizabeth (Taylor) Vondrak. He was baptized and confirmed at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Sioux City, Iowa. He went to a one room school house a mile from home with his siblings and many cousins, riding to school on his pony, Beauty.  He graduated from Central High School, Sioux City, Iowa in 1949.

He married the love of his life, Anna Pearl Johnson, on July 26, 1952 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

He cherished his upbringing on the family farm near Hinton but later settled in California, where he dedicated himself to his plumbing and real estate businesses.  Ralph was a talented artist who enjoyed oil painting in his younger years. He loved to garden and was known for his beautiful rose gardens all his life!

Ralph is survived by his daughter Jane Marie Vondrak (Brown) of Ridgecrest, California, his son Eric Ralph Vondrak and his wife Donna of Simi Valley, California, five grandchildren: Celeste Pearl, Robert D. (Dani) Brown Jr., Timothy J. (Charlene) Brown, Kristin N. (Jeff) Quartararo and Kyle E. (Jennifer) Vondrak and seven great-grandchildren: Esperanza, Gav, Westin, Wyatt, Waverly, Caden and Connor and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Anna on July 6, 1988 and his daughter Lori Ann (Michael) Finneran on June 6, 2015. He was also preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Anna (Joseph) Prasek, Paul (Genevieve) Vondrak, Regina (Robert) Chalmers and Joseph Jr. (Irene) Vondrak.

Interment will be held at Grants Pass, Oregon next to his wife Anna.