Loyd Leslie "Bunny" Houseman 1921-2005

HOUSEMAN, BRANDENBURG, BRANDENBERG, KLUG, KELLY, HOLLIMAN, HUTTO, CAHILL, DUHON, RENO, KOOLSTRA, TAYLOR, JOCHIM, PURVIS, ELKIN, BOESCH, BARRETT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/27/2011 at 23:52:38

Loyd Leslie "Bunny" Houseman, the son of Clayton and Mary (Brown) Houseman, was born March 29, 1921, in Armstrong, Iowa. He died Thursday, August 18, 2005, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 84 years, four months and 19 days.

He received his education in the Armstrong schools, graduating from Armstrong High School in 1940.

Loyd was united in marriage to Helen Florence Brandenberg on December 31, 1941 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Armstrong, Iowa. He served in the United States Navy Seabees during World War II. After his discharge, the couple lived in Armstrong, where he farmed. They moved to Estherville and he started Bunny's Service Station on April 1, 1946. Bunny enjoyed the business and social aspect of his Houseman Oil and Riverside Sinclair Service Station. He retired in1989, but remained active in the family business. Helen passed away on April 30, 1982. On September 15, 1990, Bunny was united in marriage to Delores Klug at Ceylon, Minnesota. They continued to live in Estherville.

Loyd was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Estherville. Bunny was a lifetime member of the VFW and Elk's Lodge.

Bunny was an avid race fan his entire life. He raced go-karts and later owned and sponsored cars racing at Milford in 1951 and later Jackson Speedway in 1953. He was a perfectionist when it came to the mechanical aspects of the race car. Bunny later sponsored his sons, Denny and Bob's sprint cars. He was an active supporter of the Jackson Speedway for many years and served on the Rules Committee. Bunny was inducted into the Jackson Speedway Hall of Fame in 2003 and he also received the Slawson Award. Bunny also enjoyed collecting petroleum memorabilia.

Left to cherish Bunny's memory are his wife, Delores of Estherville; three daughters and three sons, Barbara Kelly of Baton Rouge, LA; Dennis Houseman and his wife, Kathy of Spencer, IA; Dianne Holliman and her husband, Dan of Hamburg, IA; Richard Houseman and his wife, Cheryl of Estherville; Rhonda Hutto and her husband, Michael of Kingwood, TX and Robert Houseman and wife, Barbara of Estherville; twenty-five grandchildren, John Kelly, Dan Kelly and his wife, Cheryl, Dawn Cahill and her husband, Bill, Jennifer Duhon and her husband, Jarrod, Douglas Houseman and his wife, Debra, Darci Reno and her husband, Steve, Debbie Koolstra and her husband, Bill, Darren Houseman and his wife, Jessica, Jeremy Taylor and his wife, Tiffany, Dustin Taylor, Alex Taylor, Michelle Jochim and her husband, Alan, Brenda Purvis and her husband, Victor, Ryan Houseman, Rochelle Houseman, Cathy Elkin, Jeffrey Elkin, Karie Elkin, Ashley Elkin, Michael Houseman, Elle Houseman, Jared Klug, Thea Boesch and her husband, Todd, Cameron Klug, Dylan Klug; twenty-one great grandchildren, Michael Kelly, Kayla Kelly, Austin Cahill, Scott Cahill, Jordan Duhon, Justin Duhon, Joey Duhon, Jordyn Houseman, Jacob Houseman, Trevor Taylor, Joshua Reno, Jade Reno, Lucas Koolstra, Sydney Koolstra, Jenna Houseman, Delaney Houseman, Emma Jochim, Mason Jochim, Regan Purvis, Meagan Purvis, Samantha Purvis; two stepsons, Gary Klug and Glen Klug and his wife, Kathy all of Ceylon, MN; one sister, Ruth Barrett and her husband, Earl of Eden Valley, MN and also several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Loyd was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Helen; one brother Earl and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorial contributions be made to Avera Holy Family Hospital Hospice or the Regional Wellness Center in Estherville. (MC)