LeRoy Balk, 78 of Templeton, died early Saturday morning, September 5, 2015 at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The Celebrant will be Fr. Steve Brodersen. Music for the mass will be by Jeanne Kerkhoff and the Sacred Heart Men’s Choir. Lector will be Deb Hansen. Gift Bearers will be LeRoy’s great-grandchildren: Emmett Balk, Sachiko Kieffer, and Greyson Janning. Eucharistic Minister will be Donnie Nieland. Casket Bearers will be LeRoy’s grandchildren: Tim Lynn Balk, Tanner Nieland, Brandon Balk, William Erickson, Brittany Balk, Jacob Mann and Addison Ross. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Monday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 p.m.
The casket will be moved to Sacred Heart Church in Templeton at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for LeRoy’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on September 19, 1936 at Willey, Iowa, LeRoy was the son of Clem and Florence (Wiskus) Balk. At a young age, LeRoy moved with his family to Templeton where he attended a country school and later graduated from Sacred Heart School with the Class of 1955.
On August 23, 1958, LeRoy was united in marriage to Judy Schaeuble at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton with Fr. Leo Harpenau officiating. To this union were seven children. LeRoy and Judy raised their family in Templeton where he worked as a farm hand for Frank “Boots” Irlmeier for many years. LeRoy also was employed with Farmland Foods for 28 years until his retirement in 2002.
LeRoy enjoyed people; loved joking and telling stories. He also enjoyed tinkering with lawn mowers, attending Saturday morning consignment sales, going to Quandt Auto Salvage, watching Figure 8 races, and trips to the casino. LeRoy’s greatest joy was his family and loved each and every time his family would gather for various occasions.
LeRoy was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton.
Survivors include his wife Judy Balk of Templeton; his children: Randy (Lydia) Balk of Templeton, Laurie (Donnie) Nieland of Auburn, Tim (Tina) Balk of Templeton, Julie (Ed) Erickson of Key Largo, FL, Joe (Laurel) Balk of Wichita, KS, Joyce Mann of Omaha, NE, and Amy (Chad) Ross of Carroll; 23 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; his brothers: Ray Balk of Odessa, MO, Terry Balk of Council Bluffs, and Gary Balk of Manning; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Melvin Brincks of Roselle, Dale Sloth of Audubon, Larry Gute of Carroll, Margaret (Eugene) Heithoff of Templeton, Anna Mae ( Merlin “Mox”) Irlmeier of Templeton, Mary Kisgen of Wildomar, CA, Dolores Schaeuble of Sioux City, Jeanie Schaeuble of Des Moines, and Ernie Wehn of Springdale, AR; as well as other extended relatives and many friends.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Clem and Florence Balk; his siblings: Thelma Grimsman, Louise Sloth, LaVern Balk, Dorene Gute, and Marlene Brincks; and one brother in infancy.
