BIRKHOLZ, Lester K. 1909-2010

BIRKHOLZ, METZ, ADAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/27/2010 at 18:44:58

Lester K. "Les" Birkholz

MASON CITY - Lester "Les" K. Birkholz, 101, of Mason City, died Saturday (July 24, 2010) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at the Hanford Community Church, 12411 Spruce Ave., with Pastor Scott Sokol, of the Hanford Community Church and the Rev. Ron Stein, of the First Baptist Church officiating. Inurnment will be at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with a Masonic service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lester Birkholz Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Lester was born on April 12 1909, in Floyd County, Iowa, the son of William L. and Anna M. (Metz) Birkholz. He received his education in Rudd Schools and graduated in 1927. He graduated from Hamilton Business College in 1928.

Les married Gertrude Adams on Aug. 19, 1933, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He was employed by Standard Oil for 25 years, and the Iowa State Highway Commission as an Inspector for 18 years, before retiring in 1971.

He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, camping and traveling - and spent several winters in Florida.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, and attended the Hanford Community Church. He was also a member of the Masonic Harding Lodge No. 649 A.F. & A.M., I.O.O.F., RSVP, and did volunteer work at United Way.

Les is survived by two sons, Robert Birkholz and wife, Barbara, of Beverly Hills, Florida, and Richard Birkholz and wife, Maryjane, of Mason City; four grandchildren: Mark Birkholz and wife, Nancy, of Mason City; Jay Birkholz, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Lisa Santee and husband, Monte, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Annette Thornblade and husband, Tom, of Mason City; 12 great-grandchildren; and special friend: Leota Church, of Omaha, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gertrude in 1992; one brother and two sisters.

Arrangements with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 641-423-0924.

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

[Mason City Globe Gazette online, Tuesday, July 27, 2010]