Ralph G Borcherding

Ralph Clarence George Borcherding was born December 28, 1919, the son of Henry and Lena Borcherding. He died at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the age of ninety-five.
Ralph was born in Latimer, Iowa. He received his education in the Hampton Community High School, graduating with the class of 1937. After completing his education, he worked at the Graham Department Store in Hampton, Iowa. Ralph was united in marriage to Dorris Ruhl, September 21, 1941, in Webster City, Iowa, and the couple was blessed with the birth of two children.
In 1942, Ralph enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and completed his training as a pharmacist’s mate at the Great Lakes Training Station in Chicago. He was subsequently transferred to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, to complete his training as an aviation medical technician. He was then transferred to the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia, to work as an instructor for the new chill chamber unit and oxygen instruction for pilots. In 1944, he served in the North Atlantic Ocean anti-submarine destroyer U.S.S. Neunzer, DE 150, as a Pharmacist’s Mate First Class.
After receiving his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to work at the Graham Department Store in Hampton. In 1947, the family subsequently moved to Belmond, Iowa, to work with another department store. In 1949, he became the manager of a store in Adel, Iowa and in 1955, he purchased a men’s clothing storen in Sac City. In 1961, he opened the C.R. Anthony Store in Denison with his previous employers and operated that store until retiring there in 1978. He subsequently opened the Vault Fashions for women in Denison.
After retirement, he filled the Executive Director’s position of the Denison Chamber of Commerce and the Crawford County Development Corporation, a position he held until 1984. In 1987, he was elected mayor of Denison and served for four consecutive terms. During his tenure as mayor, he was responsible for the allocation of land used by the Iowa National Guard and Western Iowa Tech Community College, exchange of land used by the Denison Community Schools, initiated plans for the runway extension at the Denison Municipal Airport, purchasing the computers for the Denison City Hall, the Police Department computer system, and reorganization to a highly respected law enforcement center, opened bids for the proposed Denison Aquatic Fun Center and instituted curbside mandatory garbage pick-up and recycling for Denison.
His devotion to Denison didn’t stop as he was involved with various projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of Denison by establishing biking and hiking trails, improvements in the operation of the Denison Municipal Utilities, dog pound, and various paving, stop lights and building projects for the city. He managed the rebuilding of the 1992 and 1993 floods that caused $40 million in damage.
As his professional life was devoted to the city and residence of Denison, his personal life was dedicated to his family. He was a kind and considerate husband, father, and grandfather who enjoyed traveling with his wife to Texas, Florida, Alabama, Hawaii and fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada. He also enjoyed playing golf, socializing with his family, friends and residents of Denison. The couple enjoyed taking a cruise together.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorris in 2010; sisters, Esther, Lena, Wilhemina; brothers, Harry, Bill and Gearhart. Survivors include one son, Bud and his wife, Vicki; one daughter, Judy Evers and her husband, Terry; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren, other relatives, and many friends.