Obituary for Robert Henry Schlesser
Le Mars, Iowa - Robert H. Schlesser, 91, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 3, 2023, at All Saints Catholic Parish-St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alton, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 4-7 p.m. with a Rosary at 5 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the church.
Robert Henry Schlesser was born on June 21, 1931, in Maurice, Iowa to Henry and Hilda (Pinns) Schlesser. He was raised on a farm in Maurice and attended country school until the 8th grade. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and served until his honorable discharge in 1954, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
On January 5, 1957, Robert and Ruby Adank were united in marriage in Waumandee, Wisconsin. Following their marriage, they lived for a short time in Wisconsin before returning to the Maurice area to farm and he also worked for a short time at Lundell’s in Cherokee, Iowa. Robert continued to farm all his life, raising hogs, sheep and chickens while also milking cows. He also enjoyed gardening. Robert retired from farming in 1987. Following his retirement, he worked at the Le Mars Hatchery from 1987 to 1998 and the Le Mars Agri Center in the Struble branch from 1998 to 2002. Robert and Ruby returned to the Schlesser century homestead where he was born near Maurice in 1991 and lived there until 2020. They then moved into Le Mars, but Robert still enjoyed going out to the homestead place almost daily to tinker around and keep the place mowed.
Robert was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish-St. James Church in Le Mars and a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He also belonged to the VFW in Remsen, Iowa. Robert enjoyed having the grandkids around and when they were young, they always knew where his candy drawer was.
He will be lovingly remembered by his children; Mark (Shelly) Schlesser of Le Mars, IA, Donna (Larry) Huss of Yankton, SD, Randy Schlesser of Le Mars, IA, Bob (Lori) Schlesser of Le Mars, IA and Jerry (Terri) Schlesser of Dutton, MT; a son-in-law, Chuck Johnson of Le Mars, IA; 18 grandchildren, Matthew (Katelyn), Craig (Caitlin) and Aaron (Kelsey) Schlesser, Jamie Huss (Sydney), Dani Marcial (Alberto), Lacey Oehlerking (James), Kyle (Jackie), Chad (Kelsey), Joshua and Scott (Kelsey) Schlesser, Melanie Greenstein (Michael), Megan Johnson-Gott (Isaac), Emilie Montag (Jared), Jeri Lyn Lawrenson (Bill), Jason Schlesser (Kiley), Brooke Kugler (Logan), Chris Schlesser (Nikki) and Suzanne Schlesser (Shawn); 30 great-grandchildren plus 2 on the way; sister, Delores Arens of Le Mars, IA; several nieces and nephews.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; daughter Susan Johnson; sisters, Carmen (Eugene) O’Brien, Darlene Barkowski and Phyllis (Francis) O’Neill; brothers-in-law, Jerome, Lyle and Gordon Adank and Ray Arens.
The family prefers memorials to St. Croix Hospice of Sioux City.
Robert Henry Schlesser was born on June 21, 1931, in Maurice, Iowa to Henry and Hilda (Pinns) Schlesser. He was raised on a farm in Maurice and attended country school until the 8th grade. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and served until his honorable discharge in 1954, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
On January 5, 1957, Robert and Ruby Adank were united in marriage in Waumandee, Wisconsin. Following their marriage, they lived for a short time in Wisconsin before returning to the Maurice area to farm and he also worked for a short time at Lundell’s in Cherokee, Iowa. Robert continued to farm all his life, raising hogs, sheep and chickens while also milking cows. He also enjoyed gardening. Robert retired from farming in 1987. Following his retirement, he worked at the Le Mars Hatchery from 1987 to 1998 and the Le Mars Agri Center in the Struble branch from 1998 to 2002. Robert and Ruby returned to the Schlesser century homestead where he was born near Maurice in 1991 and lived there until 2020. They then moved into Le Mars, but Robert still enjoyed going out to the homestead place almost daily to tinker around and keep the place mowed.
Robert was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish-St. James Church in Le Mars and a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He also belonged to the VFW in Remsen, Iowa. Robert enjoyed having the grandkids around and when they were young, they always knew where his candy drawer was.
He will be lovingly remembered by his children; Mark (Shelly) Schlesser of Le Mars, IA, Donna (Larry) Huss of Yankton, SD, Randy Schlesser of Le Mars, IA, Bob (Lori) Schlesser of Le Mars, IA and Jerry (Terri) Schlesser of Dutton, MT; a son-in-law, Chuck Johnson of Le Mars, IA; 18 grandchildren, Matthew (Katelyn), Craig (Caitlin) and Aaron (Kelsey) Schlesser, Jamie Huss (Sydney), Dani Marcial (Alberto), Lacey Oehlerking (James), Kyle (Jackie), Chad (Kelsey), Joshua and Scott (Kelsey) Schlesser, Melanie Greenstein (Michael), Megan Johnson-Gott (Isaac), Emilie Montag (Jared), Jeri Lyn Lawrenson (Bill), Jason Schlesser (Kiley), Brooke Kugler (Logan), Chris Schlesser (Nikki) and Suzanne Schlesser (Shawn); 30 great-grandchildren plus 2 on the way; sister, Delores Arens of Le Mars, IA; several nieces and nephews.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; daughter Susan Johnson; sisters, Carmen (Eugene) O’Brien, Darlene Barkowski and Phyllis (Francis) O’Neill; brothers-in-law, Jerome, Lyle and Gordon Adank and Ray Arens.
The family prefers memorials to St. Croix Hospice of Sioux City.