Leo J. Gansen Sr. 1935-2009

GANSEN, CHAPMANN, JAEGER, VOELS, MILLER, BERGFELD, HOPPENJAN, PEDLEY, HINKEL

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 2/3/2009 at 17:47:47

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Leo J. Gansen Sr.

EPWORTH, Iowa -- Leo J. Gansen Sr., 73, of 108 First Street NE, Epworth, died at 8:42 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at Grandview Nursing Home, Oelwein.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Epworth, with the Rev. Dennis Cain officiating and Deacon James Kean assisting. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Epworth. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Epworth, where there will be a wake service at 4 p.m.

He was born on Sept. 21, 1935, in Peosta, son of Elmer and Marie (Chapmann) Gansen. He received his education in the Peosta area schools.

He married Shirley Jaeger on April 27, 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dubuque; she preceded him in death on June 11, 1997. He then married Mary Ann Voels on May 3, 2003, at St. Patrick's Church in Epworth.

Leo was employed as a truck driver and auto mechanic and later at Flexsteel in Dubuque.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Parish and its Altar and Rosary Society, he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5513 of Peosta, and the 4th Degree Dubourg Assembly Council 1573.

Leo enjoyed fishing, deer-hunting, racing and spending time with his family.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Ann Gansen, of Epworth; two sons, Leo (Wendy) Gansen Jr. and Garry (Sue) Gansen, both of Epworth; a stepson, Tim (Chera) Voels, of New York; six grandchildren, Damien (Tanya) Miller, Terry (Andrea) Miller, Eric (Katie) Gansen, Andrea Gansen, Kyle (Dana) Gansen, and Kelly Gansen; two stepgrandchildren, Tyler and Devon Voels; 11 great-grandchildren, David, Tyler, Deven, Noah, Alex, Garrett, Zack, Cloie, Kylie, Sydni and Alaina; a brother-in-law, Ed Bergfeld Jr.; his mother-in-law, Ramona Hoppenjan; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charlie (Darlene) Hoppenjan, Dave (June) Hoppenjan, Nancy (Steve) Hoppenjan, Norma (Richard) Pedley; and many wonderful nieces and nephews..

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Juanita Bergfeld and Mary Hinkel; his father-in-law, Bernard Hoppenjan; and his father and mother-in-law, Arnold and Annice Jaeger Sr.

A Leo J. Gansen Sr. Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.