Leon Tigges, age 88, of Carroll, died Saturday, June 17, 2023 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2023 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. in St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Church.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Leon’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Leon, the son of Clem and Leona (Liewer) Tigges was born on April 30, 1935 near Willey, Iowa. He grew up near Willey, and later near Maple River, Iowa graduating in 1953 from Carroll High School. Upon graduating Leon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps honorably serving from 1953 to 1956. Upon his honorable discharge he returned to the area working on the family farm.
On June 7, 1958 Leon was united in marriage to Ruth Nieland at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The couple made their home west of Maple River where Leon operated his grain and livestock farm. In addition to farming, he earned his Pilot’s License, an accomplishment he was very proud of. Leon was active with softball in the area, becoming one of the first slow-pitch umpires in Carroll County. He enjoyed playing cards and socializing with his coffee group at McDonalds. An avid baseball fan, he frequently cheered for the Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees. He was a member of the Carroll American Legion Honor Guard, former member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Maple River, and St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll.
Leon is survived by his wife Ruth of Carroll, children: Dr. Michael Tigges of Waterloo, Dr. Russell (Abbie) Tigges of Lagrangeville, New York, and Douglas Tigges of Minneapolis, MN, a son-in-law: Joe Bornong of Minneapolis; four grandchildren: Kyra, Zachery, Samuel, and Rachel; his siblings: Kay Simons of Carroll, and Sister Mildred Tigges F.S.P.A. of LaCrosse, WI; his brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law: Dick Pitner of Omaha, Gene (Becky) Nieland of Breda, Lois (Peter) Cousseau of New York City, Sister Ione Nieland, F.S.P.A. of LaCrosse, WI, and Ethel (Tom) Unger of Silverton, Oregon, as well as nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Leon was preceded in death by his daughter Julie Ann Tigges, his parents, siblings: Dolores (Tom) Sullivan, Edwin (Helen) Tigges, JoAnn Pitner; brothers-in-law: Larry Nieland, and Duane Nieland; and a sister-in-law Connie Nieland.