Leo J. Theisen 1927-2016

THEISEN, CALLAHAN, FOXEN, BUELOW, HEUNISCH, HAISLET, SCHEID, HONNOLD, LEACH, KONRAD, MCMAHON, VASKE, DIETERS, LYNCH, BAKEY, SIMON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/25/2018 at 10:26:02

Telegraph Herald: Web Edition Articles (Dubuque, IA) - Saturday, October 8, 2016

Leo J. Theisen, age 88, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully at 2:20 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Stonehill Care Center, surrounded by his loving family.

To honor Leo's life, funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 10, 2016, at the Church of the Resurrection, 4300 Asbury Road, with Rev. Joseph L. Hauer officiating. To celebrate Leo's life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2016, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture wake service held at 6:00 p.m. Entombment will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, where full military honors will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League.

Leo was born on October 20, 1927, in South Garry Owen, Iowa, son of Joseph and Mary (Callahan) Theisen.

In true patriotic fashion, Leo would honorably join the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, and go on to proudly serve his country's calling during WWII. Shortly after his return to the states, Leo would be united in marriage to Mary Agnes Dolphin on April 12, 1950, in Cascade. Their union would be blessed with 58 wonderful years, and 5 adored children, before she was called home ahead of him on January 16, 2009. Leo would diligently invest over 28 years of his working career at John Deere Dubuque Works and definitely reinforce the value of a strong work ethic for all of his family to follow. He would maintain his relationships with fellow employees by continually carrying memberships in the John Deere Retirees and the Union Local #94 Retirees. Leo would also faithfully devote his religious life to both Nativity Church, as a longtime member, and finally to Resurrection as his retirement years passed.

But first, and foremost, Leo was a committed, and simple family man who strived daily to provide the best life he could for his deeply loved family. Whether it was making the good decisions daily, or consistently keeping the house and yard in meticulous order, his family always knew that with Leo at the helm, they were guaranteed to be in excellent shape. Leo and Mary would joyfully indulge in countless relaxing hours together at Spruce Creek, savoring every opportunity to get the boat out for a little skiing with the children, casting a few lines in the water chasing the catch of the day, or even a pleasant evening sitting around the card table with family and friends. We will always treasure the memories of this true man, through and through, the kind they simply don't make anymore. We are saddened today, and our hearts must now carry the heavy burden of moving forward without Leo in our daily lives. But, thankfully we'll discover slight moments of peace in knowing that he, and his beautiful bride Mary, have finally been reunited again in their favorite dancing embrace and also in remembering that the legacy Leo leaves behind is surely one which will be evident within his family for generations to come.

Those left to cherish Leo's memory include his five children, Kenneth Theisen, Pittsburg, CA, June Foxen, Dubuque, IA, Gerianne "Geri" (Allan) Buelow, Asbury, IA, Lisa (Jerry Leach) Theisen, Ankeny, IA, and Lori (Jason) Heunisch, Cedar Rapids, IA; his fifteen grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Jhass Theisen, Christopher (Nancy) Foxen and Robert (Jane Lyon) Foxen, T.J. Haislet, Sarah (Brian) Scheid, Greg Buelow, Tony Buelow and Joe Buelow, Rikki (Dan) Helvick, Ryan Honnold, Jade Honnold, Adam (Amelia) Leach and Morgan (Emmett) Konrad, and Calysta Heunisch and Colton Heunisch; his three great-grandchildren; ten step great-grandchildren; and his sister, Celestine McMahon, Roseville, MN; and two sisters-in-law, Mary Theisen, Dubuque, IA, and Grace Vaske, Dyersville, IA.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Mary Theisen; his sisters, Viola Dieters, Marcella (Joseph) Lynch, Agnes "Pat" (Bob) Bakey and Lorraine (Mike) Simon; his brothers, Don, Bernard and Joseph Theisen; and a brother-in-law, Jack McMahon.

In lieu of flowers, a Leo J. Theisen memorial fund has been established, which will be distributed among the Alzheimer's Association and Opening Doors.

Leo's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the nurses and staff at Stonehill, and Hospice of Dubuque, for all of the kind, professional and compassionate care they provided Leo and his family.