Dennis Riesselman, 72 of Willey, died Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at his home in Willey surrounded by his family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 21, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willey. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Concelebrant and homilist will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Deacon Matthew Miller will assist with the Funeral Mass. Mass servers will be Aiden Klein and Nora Lengeling. Music will be by Jane Heithoff. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Aubrey Hill, Lucy Belzer, and Naomi Schreck. Gift Bearers will be Hazel Belzer, Mara Schreck, Sage Schreck, Thea Schreck, Amelia Leib, Gehrig Schreck, and Luna Worth. Casket Bearers will be Caleb Belzer, Simon Belzer, Toby Belzer, Hayden Leib, Bennett Leib, and Erik Riesselman. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Willey with military honors conducted by the Dedham American Legion.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willey with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Friday in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall.
The family kindly requests no flowers; should one desire please consider a memorial donation to St. Mary’s Foundation. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Dennis’ family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Dennis (Denny Leonard Riesselman, was born October 8, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa and was the second son of Lawrence and Ada (Gill) Riesselman.
Growing up on Maple Street in Carroll, Denny graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1969. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Divion as a Tank Operator/Commander.
Honorably discharged Denny rejoined Emmett Lahr of Lahr Upholstery in Carroll whom he was mentored by and employed totaling 13 years. Denny was hired by Pella Corporation newly establishing in Carroll, setting up assembly lines as a Cost Center Manager for seven years. Then beginning a self-employed manufacturing company in Jefferson which was closed due to loss of fire. In 1996 Denny was privileged to be employed as a Mail Carrier for the next 24 years by the United States Postal Service retiring Feb 28, 2020.
Denny was a quiet, humble, caring, hardworking man who loved lifting folks less fortunate. Denny and Sue Broich’s first date was June 8, 1973, and have committed to each other for 50 years. Married at beautiful St. Mary’s Church in Willey on July 6, 1974, they moved to Willey on May 2, 1975, after a short residence in Carroll.
Denny’s talents and perfectionism in woodworking, inventing, upholstery and foresight turned their 1918 house into a loving nurturing home. Blessed with four special daughters, Denny and Sue were privileged to be a part of a loving, sharing, peaceful community settled around the base of their lives, St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Denny’s commitment to St. Mary’s, Willey City Council, Dedham American Legion and his service to his country proved his deep concern for his neighbors and friends.
Denny took seriously his love of nature and respect for hunting, fishing. He had a unique talent in auto upholstery, and took pride in gardening, his lawn and landscaping. But his four beautiful daughters, their husbands and seventeen grand children were his extreme wealth and God given gifts. He truly enjoyed the competition of ping-pong, foosball, fishing, and poker with his grandchildren, daughters, and sons-in-law.
Denny is survived by his wife Sue, four daughters and their special families. Anna Belzer (Dan) of Pella, Kristel Leib (Steve) of West Des Moines, Rachael Schreck (Chad) of Mason City and Leah Worth (Jesse) of Ames. Seventeen Grandchildren; Aubrey Hill (Caden), Caleb, Simon, Toby, Lucy Sue and Hazel Belzer, Hayden, Bennett, Amelia Leib, Naomi, Mara, Sage, Thea, Gehrig, Leo and Anaya Schreck, and Luna Worth.
Denny is also survived by his siblings; David (Karen) Riesselman of Lake View. Allan (Cindy) Riesselman of Dedham, Michael (Connie) Riesselman of Willey. Lifelong friend/brother Michael Bayer of Carroll. His in-laws Sharon Warren of New Bern, NC, Ted (Angela) Broich of Johnston, IA and loving nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and other very special extended family members. Denny was preceded in death by his parents Ada (Gill) and Lawerence Riesselman, his mother in-law and father in-law: Bertha (Soyer) and Alfred Broich, brother-in-law Keith Warren and many Riesselman, Gill, Broich and Soyer aunts, uncles and cousins.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude for your kind deeds, thoughts and prayers during Denny’s illness and your attendance at his Service and Mass. Your sympathy is deeply appreciated and will be remembered.
Please join us for a luncheon and time to share Denny’s memories in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the Committal Service.
The Loving Family of Denny Riesselman
