Robert Schleis, age 79 of Wall Lake, IA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City, IA. Robert Raymond Schleis was born on March 20, 1944, in Charter Oak, IA, to parents Jerome and Margaret (Stodden) Schleis. He grew up on a farm five miles south of Charter Oak and graduated from Charter Oak High School with the class of 1962. After high school, Robert worked several years as a semi driver delivering farm equipment for Schenkelberg Implement out of Dunlap, IA.
In 1974, Robert purchased a farm in Wall Lake where he and his parents lived. He raised livestock and farmed the land, growing and harvesting a lot of corn and beans over the years.
On July 23, 1983, Robert married Denise Mae Gray. The couple met at a place called “It’ll Do” in Denison, IA, where Denise worked. Robert would get together with his friends there on a regular basis to play cards, which is something he and Denise enjoyed and continued to do throughout their married life. They were blessed with three children, Jessica, Geoffrey, and Elizabeth. The whole family took part in the farming operation and continue to do so to this day. Robert never actually retired; he worked until his health no longer allowed due to his most recent battle with cancer. He was a farmer through and through. Whether it was hauling the kids in the combine during harvest where they’d sit next to him and do their homework, teaching them all the ins and out of the farm, or caring for the animals at chore time, it was something they took part in together.
Robert and Denise played cards with friends on a regular basis and participated in couples bowling league for many years. When the kids were growing up, he and Denise took the kids camping quite a bit. They all enjoyed this and many great memories were made. He and Denise also enjoyed going to different casinos in the area in their free time.
Robert was not a man of few words, he was more of the ‘never met a stranger’ type. He loved having conversations with people whether he knew them or not. He had a genuinely great personality and was a jokester who loved getting people to laugh. If you were around him enough you’d know he liked calling everyone George and often times when he called you on the phone he’d greet you with “it’s me again Margaret!” hoping to get a good laugh from the other end of the line. He was a man of faith and a hard worker who provided well for his family. While he may have been stubborn, his family all knew his heart was full of love for each and every one of them. They will miss him dearly as will all who knew and loved him.
Robert is survived by his wife, Denise Schleis of Wall Lake, IA; children Jessica (Curtis) Riedell of Volo, IL, Geoffrey Schleis of Wall Lake, IA, and Elizabeth (Charlie) Leisinger of Wall Lake, IA; grandchildren Samantha (fiancé Austin) Riedell of Bettendorf, IA, Faith Riedell of Las Vegas, NV, Casjen Riedell of Volo, IA, and Margaret and Dennis Leisinger of Wall Lake, IA; great-grandchildren Raelynn and Georgia Riedell; sisters Eileen (Melvin) Naeve of Hesperia, CA, and Ruth Ann Schleis of Ida Grove, IA; mother-in-law Gloria Gray of Deloit, IA; sisters-in-law Debra Griffin of Deloit, IA, Delores (Allen) Ryan of Correctionville, IA, and Betty Schleis of GA; brothers-in-law David (Cindy) Gray of Deloit, IA, and Channing (Lisa) Gray of Deloit, IA; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Margaret Schleis; brothers Joseph (Dorothy) Schleis, Donald Schleis, and Lawrence (Charlene) Schleis; and father-in-law Dean Gray.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, IA. Burial will be in the Wall Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Wall Lake. Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Wall Lake has been entrusted to care for Robert and his family.
