Lavern Riesenberg, age 84, of Halbur, died Monday, May 9, 2016, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 13, 2016 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The Celebrant will be Fr. Steven Brodersen. Mass Servers will be Emily Riesenberg, and Bryce Riesenberg. Music will be by Julie Sibbel, and the St. Augustine, and Holy Angels Choirs, with Sonya Riesenberg as soloist. Lectors will be Tricia Ezekwe, Craig Riesenberg, and Matt Riesenberg. Gift Bearers will be Tatianna Riesenberg, Carrie Riesenberg, Jolie Riesenberg, Athena Riesenberg, and Adara Ezekwe. Eucharistic Ministers will be Don Riesenberg, Tricia Ezekwe, and Irene Schroeder. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Lavern’s Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren. Casket Bearers will be Jeremy Riesenberg, Christopher Riesenberg, Adam Riesenberg, Alex Riesenberg, Danie Riesenberg, and Jeff Riesenberg. Burial will be in the parish cemetery with military honors conducted by the Arcadia American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Thursday where there will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m.
The casket will be moved to St. Augustine Church on Friday morning where visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. and continue until the time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or at the church to be directed to the family for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Lavern’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on January 7, 1932, near Roselle, Iowa, Lavern was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Wiskus) Riesenberg. He attended Holy Angels School in Roselle. After his formal education, Lavern farmed with his father. On March 2, 1953, Lavern was inducted into the United States Army and served in the transportation unit during the Korean Conflict. Upon his honorable discharge on March 1, 1955, Lavern returned to Halbur where he continued to farm and work as a Chevrolet mechanic.
On November 17, 1958, Lavern was united in marriage to Theresa Peter at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham. The couple made their home on the Riesenberg Family Farm near Halbur. In addition to his farming and mechanic work, Lavern drove school bus for the Carroll Community School District for 26 years until his retirement in 2008.
Over the years Lavern enjoyed traveling with his wife Theresa. He also enjoyed driving high school students to their extracurricular activities. Most of all, Lavern enjoyed spending time with his wife, thirteen children, and their families. Lavern was a lifetime member of the Arcadia American Legion and St. Augustine Church in Halbur.
Lavern is survived by his children: Dave (Colleen) Riesenberg of Manson, Dale (Linda) Riesenberg of Sioux City, Don (Michele) Riesenberg of West Bend, Denise (Jeff) Petty of Princeton, Tom (Julie) Riesenberg of Carroll, Chuck (Lisa) Riesenberg of West Bend, Scott (Marie) Riesenberg of Cedar Rapids, Russ (Tracy) Riesenberg of Roselle, Tricia (Ben) Ezekwe of Kansas City, MO, Craig (Sonya) Riesenberg of Muscatine, Matt (Helene) Riesenberg of Springfield, VA, Kris (Anna) Riesenberg of Eagan, MN, and Nic (Diana) Riesenberg of Hagerstown, MD; 29 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way; his sisters: Irene (Bob) Schroeder of Carroll, and Laura Wernimont of Carroll; his sister-in-law’s, and brother-in-law’s: Irene Riesenberg-Koythan of Carroll, Betty Riesenberg of Carroll, Hank Eischeid of Omaha, NE, Frances (Kenneth “Shorty”) Wieland of Templeton, Carol (Vernon) Irlmeier of Glidden, and Jane Peter of Dedham; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Lavern was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Theresa on November 3, 2015; and his siblings: Stella Riesberg, Ed Riesenberg, Florence Eischeid, Ray Riesenberg, and an infant sister, Laura Riesenberg.
