LeRoy Ziesmer

    LeRoy A. Ziesmer, 82, 2602 North Shore Dr., Clear Lake, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at Apache Junction, Az.  A funeral  Mass was held Saturday, Dec. 10, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake with Rev. John R. Tilp officiating. Interment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Highway 122 W., Mason City, Iowa.  Memorials may be given to the Leroy A. Ziesmer Memorial Fund.

     LeRoy Aaron was born July 22, 1929 on their family farm in Ventura, the son of Henry Carl and Mathilda (Bahr) Ziesmer. Leroy was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Garner.  He graduated from Ventura High School in 1945.  His “first” job was selling pickles for Presley Griggs.  He worked for Bierman Grocery Store and Field Grocery Store, both in Ventura.  He also worked on the family farm.  LeRoy married Kathleen Fay “Pat” Parker April 16, 1950 in Mason City.  They lived on a farm west of Ventura where he farmed and then he managed the Farmers Co-op, retiring in 1995.  
      LeRoy loved family get togethers and vacations with the grandchildren; including fishing trips, camping trips, cruises, and Sunday drives. He enjoyed trading show pigeons.  Retirement allowed them to spend many winters in Arizona.  He was a member of the Ventura School Board, Community State Bank Board, Clear Lake Sanitary District Board, Ventura Cemetery Board, and was a former Ventura Fire Dept. volunteer.   He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake.
     LeRoy is survived by his wife, Pat Ziesmer, Clear Lake; five children, Jody (Michael) O’Donnell, Pocatello, Idaho, Jane (Douglas) Beach, Kansas City, Mo., David (Becky) Ziesmer, rural Garner, Iowa, Jana Niemeyer and her fiancé, Jim Kern, Blue Springs, Mo., and Andrew (Jean) Ziesmer; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) Smith, Aaron Hollingshead, Austin (Jamie) Hollingshead, Alison Ziesmer, Derek Ziesmer, Ian Niemeyer, Parker Niemeyer, Pierce Niemeyer, Zachary Ziesmer, Amanda Ziesmer, and Olivia Ziesmer; three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Iva and Matilda Smith; brother-in-law, David (Bonnie) Parker; sister-in-law, Marcia Boyd, and numerous nieces and nephews.
     LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rueben Ziesmer.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.