Ralph Conrad Hohneke

Ralph Conrad Hohneke, farmer, cattleman, hay baler, welder, part-time mayor of Honey Creek (unofficial), and caretaker of the neighborhood iron supply and miscellaneous parts supply passed away on March 10, 2026 at the age of 95. He was born, March 16, 1930 to Otto and Anna (Rief) Hohneke in Council Bluffs, IA.

Ralph liked getting friends together to work cattle (usually on the coldest day of the year), baling hay (usually on the hottest day of the year), going to farm sales (and coming home with buckets of bolts), and he loved his wife Ellen. Ralph also enjoyed making people laugh.

Ralph and Ellen were married on August 14, 1955. Shortly thereafter he was drafted into the Army whereupon he taught Ellen the fine art of driving out to the middle of nowhere at night and picking him and his Army buddies up when they were supposed to be on maneuvers. Ellen would then drive them all back to the barracks. The army maneuvers were completed in record time! Ralph was a helicopter mechanic in the Army and enjoyed occasional rides in a helicopter during his service. Other than the buddies and the helicopter rides, Ralph would definitely say that the Army was not for him.

After the Army Ralph came home to farm. He really loved having cattle and sometimes pigs. Most of the time Ralph's livestock were in a pen, but they definitely had free range tendencies - which really didn't bother Ralph. One time a weaned bottle calf showed up at the Aeroplane Inn and stood at the window to watch folks play a game of pitch. Many times a baby calf was born during a winter storm and spent the night in the kitchen.

Ralph went into the hay baling business in the 1970's and never looked back. At the age of 90 he put an ad in the newspaper announcing his retirement. He baled hay right up until the announcement.

Ralph cherished his friendships. A morning without a call with George, Ronald, and/or Peewee (to name a few) was not a morning at all. Even on vacation he would sit on a lounge chair under the sun in the morning and dial up his friends. He had friends everywhere. On a vacation in Hawaii a detour was taken to see one of his Army buddies.

Ralph and Ellen were fortunate to travel with Floyd and Betty every year for several years. Together they visited all four corners of the U.S. and even parts of Canada. Ralph preferred taking two lane roads rather than interstates, and on trips he really enjoyed dining at small town cafes so he could "talk with the locals".

In addition to his parents, Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Hohneke and his brother, Donald Hohneke.

Ralph is survived by his daughter, LynMarie (Randy) Berntson; son, Mark (Suzie) Hohneke; grandchildren, Bjorn Berntson, Anna Berntson, Madeline Hohneke, Nicholas Hohneke; sister-in-law, Jeanne (Don) Hohneke, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.

Please join us to celebrate Ralph's life and share stories during a visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home, a meaningful day that would have been Ralph's 96th birthday.

When Ellen came home with a new flower to plant Ralph would often say something like "When will that start having tomatoes?". So in lieu of flowers or as a memorial the family asks that you consider a donation to the Missouri Valley Future Farmers of America (FFA).