Walter J. Riesselman

Walter Joseph Riesselman was born May 6, 1922, the son of Henry and Kathrina Riesselman. He died at the Eventide Nursing Home in Denison, Iowa, Monday, July 4, 2016, at the age of ninety-four.
Walt grew up on a farm near Halbur, Iowa and received his education in a rural school near his home. After completing his education, he helped his family on the farm and then worked as a hired hand. He was united in marriage to Lucille Leiting April 30, 1947, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia, Iowa. The couple settled on a farm by Manning, and were blessed with the birth of four sons. In 1962 they bought and moved to the farm south of Vail.
His love of farming was evidenced by his life long career in agriculture, including cattle, hogs and selling Dekalb seed corn. Through the years he expanded his farming operation and inspired his boys, who have continued their stewardship of the land. He enjoyed driving through the country side and looking over the area farms. In his leisure time, he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and his brothers and sisters. He enjoyed playing a joke on friends and family, holding their friendship with high esteem. Walt liked making quilt racks, clocks and other knickknacks, cracking walnuts and traveling. He had a deep and abiding faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and could find tranquility in playing the accordion and harmonica at home after Mass.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Duane in 1983, his wife, Lucille in 2011; brothers, Herbert and his wife, Dolores, Lawrence and his wife, Ada, Vincent and Henry; sister Marie and her husband, Bill; brothers-in-law, Leonard and Thomas. Survivors include three sons, Steve and his wife, Connie; Jerome and his wife, Dolores and Mark and his wife, Kim; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Regina; Alice; Kathryn and her husband, Bob; three brothers, Andrew and his wife, Joann; Leonard and his wife, Donna and Vernon and his wife, Betty; a sister-in-law Linda; other relatives and many friends.