Leona Riesberg, 101 of Halbur, died early Thursday morning, June 22, 2023, at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Merlin Schrad. Music will be by Julie Sibbel and the St. Augustine Choir. Soloist will be Connie Gruver. Mass servers will be Lauren Gehling, Aiden Handlos, and Lauren Roberts. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Sara Beiter and Kim Roberts. Gift Bearers will be Teresa Sveom, Jessica Cook, Blaine Riesberg, Nicole Bauer, Amy Schlichte, and Kenzie Schreck. Eucharistic Minister will be Kevin Riesberg. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Curt Riesberg, Beth Riesberg, Lisa Hartwigsen, Mike Grossman, Nick Riesberg, Sam Riesberg, Chris Grossman, Matt Grossman, Brian Bauer, Alex Riesberg, Kellie Brenny, Eric Riesberg, and Tina Riesberg. Casket Bearers will be Douglas Riesberg, Chad Grossman, Josh Riesberg, Joe Riesberg, Cherrie McKenny, Jasmine Reis, Tim Bauer, Max Schreck, and Jason Schlichte. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard for the Funeral Mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas will recite the rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 on Tuesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Leona Riesberg family for a later designation. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for Leona’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Leona C. Riesberg was peacefully called home to the Lord on June 22, 2023, at 101 ½ years young. She was born on December 18, 1921, at home on the family farm near Butte, Nebraska to Edward and Cecelia (Schnitter) Lechtenberg. She spent her younger years on the farm, attending both St. Peter and Paul and the country school. When she was 15, her parents relocated their family to a farm south of Manning, IA. Upon graduating 8th grade and finishing her formal education, Leona helped many families in the Templeton and Manning area. During Word War II, Leona worked for Fribes Hatchery in Manning drying eggs to send to soldiers overseas.
On January 30, 1946, Leona was married to Irvin Riesberg at Sacred Heart Church in Manning by Fr. J. A. Roder. They made their home on Irvin’s family’s century farm southeast of Halbur where she enjoyed her life as a homemaker. There, she helped raise their ten children while owning and operating a Grade A dairy farm for 35 years. Leona and her husband were avid travelers, played too many card games to mention, and most importantly, attended every school, sporting, or special event they could for their family, even being inducted into the Carroll County 16” Softball Hall of Fame in 1995 as SuperFans. Many people will remember lively conversations with Leona at the Willey ballpark as she sat in her green chair under the shade trees. Leona felt blessed to celebrate her 50th Wedding Anniversary with her husband in 1996. Leona’s beloved husband passed away from cancer just two short years later in February 1998. After Irvin’s death, Leona remained on the family farm with her daughter Marilyn until she made her temporary home at Regency Nursing Home on May 15, 2023. As an active member of St. Augustine Parish for many years, Leona’s strong faith was demonstrated by her dedication to the guild and church choirs, participating in polka masses, serving the Lord as a Eucharistic Minister, and belonging to the Catholic Daughters for over 50 years. She found that leading the rosary before Sunday masses gave her strength, peace, and comfort throughout all her life. Leona greatly enjoyed attending weekly masses, followed by socializing and gathering with her coffee group.
Leona was a gracious woman of many talents and was often quilting, sewing clothing, or crafting treasures for those she loved. She was especially proud of her beautiful, award-winning penmanship. Leona enjoyed baking and cooking. She was well known across the county for her wonderful wedding cakes. Her children lovingly teased her about being the “Kraut Queen” after she entered a cooking contest, qualified at the state level, and won a prize for a specialty sauerkraut dish. On the farm, she especially loved raising her chickens and large garden, sharing the fruit, vegetables, flowers, and canned goods it produced with others. Leona’s love for music was expressed through singing and her talented accordion and organ playing. Her love for chickens and music came together during the Halbur Centennial when the family came together to build a float they named the “Riesberg Roost.” One of Leona’s most cherished memories was watching her family around her on the parade route as she played “The Chicken Dance” on her accordion along the entire route. The “Chicken Dance” will be a time-honored tradition among family members for years to come.
Although Leona loved many things during her life, her beautiful family was the most important of all. Leona treasured her relationships with each and every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She had a unique and special bond with each of her loved ones, and her loss will create a lasting heartache for us all. Left to celebrate her life and her legacy are her children Wayne (Jeanne) Riesberg of Roselle, Bob (Marian) Riesberg of Fort Dodge, Janet (Gary) Handlos of Willey, Marilyn Riesberg of Halbur, Gary (Deb) Riesberg of Halbur, Merle (Brenda) Riesberg of Carroll, Dennis (Kris) Riesberg of Halbur, Joleen (Steve) Wadlington of Arley, Alabama, Gail (Russ) Grossman of Carroll, and Lori (Dave) Bauer of Willey; her sister Loretta Handlos of Manning; 34 grandchildren; 77 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren, in addition to many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Leona is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Irvin, her parents Edward & Cecelia, a son, Merle, in infancy, granddaughter Tracy Riesberg, grandson Ryan Handlos, granddaughter Jennie Riesberg, great-grandson Tallon Beiter, and great-granddaughter Kate Brenny; brother Francis in infancy, sisters Marie Soppe and Mildred Mallet, in-laws Andrew Soppe, Albert Handlos, Fred Mallet, and parents-in-law Joe and Mary Riesberg.
