Donna Riesselman, 85 of Halbur, died on Friday, October 4, 2019 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital surrounded by her family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 10, 2019 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The celebrant will be Fr. Tim Friedrichsen. Music will be by Julie Sibbel and the St. Augustine Choir with Taylor Masamitsu as soloist. Lector will be Doris Riesselman. Gift Bearers will be Donna’s granddaughters Angie Hausner and Sydney Neubauer. Eucharistic Minister will be Doris Riesselman. Casket Bearers will be Donna’s grandsons: Matt and Corey Eischeid, Lucas and Weston Riesselman, and Tyler, Justin, and Casey Neubauer. Burial will be in St. Augustine Cemetery in Halbur.
Friends may call at St. Augustine Church in Halbur after 4 p.m. on Wednesday where there will be a rosary prayed at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume at the church from 9:30 until 10:15 a.m. Thursday morning.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be used at the discretion of the family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Donna’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on December 18, 1933, Donna was the daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Schreck) Thein. She spent her early childhood years in the Dedham, Iowa area and the family later moved to Carroll. She graduated from St. Angela’s Academy in Carroll. On September 3, 1956, Donna married Leonard Riesselman at St. Joseph’s Church in Carroll. Donna and Leonard began their married life on a farm south of Halbur, where Donna was a homemaker. Together they had five children: Dean, DeAnn, Denise, Dan and Deb. In 1983, they purchased the Chicken Inn in Halbur which they owned and operated for 25 years. They moved to Halbur in 1984. Donna enjoyed playing cards, going to slow pitch games, gardening, canning and socializing with her many friends. She especially enjoyed celebrating the holidays with her family.
She was a member of St. Augustine’s Parish, Ladies Guild and the Catholic Daughters of America. She helped establish Halbur University and served as a dean for the scholarship organization for nine years. She volunteered for the blood drive and served on the election board for several years. She was also a volunteer for the Auxiliary at St. Anthony’s Hospital.
Donna is survived by her husband Leonard of Halbur. Her children Dean (Doris) Riesselman of Boone, DeAnn (Randy) Eischeid of Halbur, Denise (Ernest) Middleton of Halbur, Dan (Jeannie) of Arab, AL, Deb Neubauer of Boone, IA, nine grandchildren: Lucas Riesselman and his fiancé Anna Statz of Sioux Falls, SD, Weston Riesselman of Wilmington, DE, Matt (Stacy) Eischeid of Dallas Center, IA, Angie (Joe) Hausner of Atchison, KS, Corey (Ali) Eischeid of Halbur, IA, Tyler (Beth) Neubauer of Beaverdale, IA, Justin Neubauer of Austin, TX, Casey Neubauer and his partner Taylor Masamitsu of New York City, NY, Sydney Neubauer and her partner, Sean Dennis of Boone, IA, step-grandchildren: Kathy and Amanda Peters, Ernest, Damion, Keane and Brandon Middleton, seven great grandchildren: Makayla and Kendra Eischeid, Addison, Hudson and Hayden Eischeid, Evie and Grace Hausner, five step great grandchildren: Ashtonn, Jagg and Haelynn Trussell, Madison and Kensley Johns, sisters in law Bonnie Thein, Jean Frischmeyer, Alice Christianson, Linda Riesselman, brothers and sisters in law Bob and Katie Curyn, Vernon and Betty Riesselman, Andy and Joann Riesselman and several nieces and nephews.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Henry and Katherine Riesselman, brother Jack Thein, brothers and sisters-in-law Herb and Delores Riesselman, Lawrence and Ada Riesselman, Bill and Marie Wernimont, Walt and Lucille Riesselman, Vince and Edith Riesselman, Leonard Frischmeyer, Tom Christianson, Gordon Podey and Henry Riesselman.
