Peter O. Lodholz

LODHOLZ, RADELZKE, WENDORFF, GERSTENBERGER, THURS, WILLIAMSON, BEYERSDORFF

Posted By: diane (email)
Date: 4/6/2017 at 18:38:15

Peter O. Lodholz, 89, of Hazleton, Iowa died on Wednesday morning, March 8, 2017 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Rev. Paul C. McManus & Deacon Jim Patera officiating.

Visitation: 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday morning until 10 A.M. at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein.

4th Degree Knights of Columbus Rosary: 3:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Parish Scipture Service: 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Interment: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa.

A Memorial fund has been established for Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Unity Point Hospice and Fontana Park.

Peter Orville Lodholz was born December 13, 1927 at the Albertina (Radelzke) Lodholz and Wilhem Lodholz homestead, the third son of six children, to Arthur Ernest and Emily Martha (Wendorff) Lodholz in the Township of Berlin, Marathon County, Wisconsin. He worked with his parents on their dairy farm in Wisconsin until he was 28 years old. Peter was united in marriage to Mary Leota Gerstenberger on September 4, 1954 in Berlin Township, Wisconsin. The three-day wedding celebration, with all of the old German customs, was one of the last to be celebrated in the town of Berlin. Together they were blessed with two sons, John, who died of cancer in June of 1995 and Leo Chadwick Lodholz. They were also blessed with the sixteen boys that their sons brought home during college days to join them to celebrate Earth Day, happy celebrations and some sad days. Peter and Mary considered them to be God’s gifts. Peter always said the good days were many and they always outnumbered the not so good. Peter moved his family to the Des Moines/Ankeny area. He worked for the Ralph and Dorothy Mathis Seed Corn Company (Elkhart Seed Co.) for 5 years, Iowa State University Research Farm for 9 years, painted new homes in the Des Moines/Ankeny area for 13 years and retired after 11years of service from Best Western Barvarian Inn in 1991. Following his retirement, Peter and Mary moved to Hazleton. He was known for his painting and woodworking skills. Some of you may own a pig, rooster or fish design he created. His family is especially proud of his Grandfather Clock he made for them. The Hunt Room speaks of his love of deer hunting and wild life watching. It is said he had names for all the deer living in the timber. The retirement years have been spent reforesting the Heimat, he especially enjoyed the walnut harvest each fall. His faithful care of the land, birds and animals tells of his great love of all that God has created.

Peter was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Oelwein 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.

Left to celebrate Peter’s memory are his Wife: Mary Leota Lodholz of Hazleton;

Son: Leo Chad Lodholz of Des Moines;

2 Sisters: Verna (Orville) Thurs of Minneapolis, Minnesota &

Florence (Roy) Williamson of Wausau, Wisconsin and

Nieces & Nephews.

Peter is preceded in death by his parents, son: John, 2 brothers, Albert Lawrence died in 1936 & Harvey (Laura) Lodholz and a sister: Dorothy (Eilert) Beyersdorff.