In Memory of

Stanley

Robert

"Bud"

Heuertz

Obituary for Stanley Robert "Bud" Heuertz

Stanley “Bud” Heuertz, 95, of Le Mars, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 on Friday, January 12, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Friday.

Stanley Robert “Bud” Heuertz was born on June 21, 1922 in rural Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Michael Valentine and Ella Elizabeth (Van Steenwyk) Heuertz. He attended Marion Township #5 school in Oyens. At 16 he left home and went to Petaluma, California where he worked on a chicken ranch, dairy farm, and was also a tree surgeon.

He wed Florence Frances (Babe) De Force on November 28, 1941 in Omaha, Nebraska. They made their home in rural Le Mars where they farmed from 1942 until 1965. As a farmer he fed cattle, raised hogs, milked cows, and did custom farm work. As a child he was a member of 4-H and later served as a 4-H leader. In 2002 he was honored at the Minnesota State Fair as a 4th Generation 4-H member with his daughter, granddaughters, and great grandchildren.

Upon moving to Le Mars, he started Heuertz Sand and Gravel with one gravel truck which expanded into Cherokee Transport, Siouxland Transport, Heuertz Trucking (Refrigeration Division), Broker Express and Heuertz Sanitation. In 1984 he started B & B Leasing.

He and Babe also owned and operated Le Mars Antiques and What-not Shop and Red Shack Antiques. The couple toured the nation exhibiting at antique shows and visiting friends and family along the way.
A couple of highlights in Bud’s life were while on a visit to Fort Gulick, Panama to see his daughter he had the opportunity to open the locks at the Panama Canal to let a ship in to transit the canal. He also rode in an Indy 500 pace car driven by Al Unser Sr. before 83rd Indy 500 race.

In later years, summers were spent on Lake Ida in Alexandria, Minnesota. Bud loved to fish and was on the lake at every opportunity. He was well known for being a great fish fryer.

Bud loved to tell stories about his life and began penning his stories and thoughts. He is also discovered his artistic side and his talent for painting. He won numerous ribbons at the Douglas County (Minn) Fair for his work. He also loved to restore pedal cars and tractors. Bud was an excellent singer and would look forward to singing at family events. His last performance was just days before his 95th birthday.
Bud was a member of St. James Catholic Church where he was KC life member. He was also a member of the Siouxland Transportation Club.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Karol (James) Callfas, of Alexandria, MN, Daniel (Pigeon) Heuertz of Le Mars, IA, Thomas (Marline) Heuertz, of Le Mars, IA, Richard (special friend Kathy Hunt) Heuertz of South Sioux City, NE, and Gayle (William) Breer- Wilber, of Lorton, VA; 27 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 25 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Babe; his parents; brothers, Victor and Wilbur; sisters, Ella and Viola; a great-grandson, Brenden Heuertz; a grandson-in-law, Jon Marienau; one son-in-law and three daughters-in-law; and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.