Life Legacy West Liberty, Iowa Ralph Leland Kirchner, 86, died Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Simpson Memorial Home Assisted Living in West Liberty. Funeral services will be held 2 P.M. Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in West Liberty. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. Memorials may be made to the West Liberty Fire and Rescue Unit. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com . Ralph was born September 27, 1928 in Muscatine, Iowa the son of George and Marie Brown Kirchner. He was a graduate of Nichols High School in 1946. On August 20, 1950 he was united in marriage to Jean Billick in West Liberty. Ralph and Jean farmed in the Nichols and West Liberty area for many years. Ralph also sold Me-john fertilizer products in the 60’s. In 1979 they began building Sunnyview Manor an elderly housing complex in West Liberty and operated it until it was sold in 1997. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, joined the Masonic Lodge in 1949, and was a member of the Consistory, and KAABA Shrine. In 1963 he was awarded the Outstanding Farmer Award for Muscatine County and had served for 25 years on the Muscatine County Soil Conservation Board. Survivors include a sister-in-law Joyce (Robert) LaKose of Clear Lake. Also surviving is one niece Karen Britcher, five nephews: Kurt Kirchner, Jeff LaKose, Joel LaKose, Craig LaKose and Chad LaKose; as well as numerous great nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jean in 2010 and two brothers LaMoyne and Lloyd.