Lela Mae Reisch, 1929 - 2024

REISCH, TAYLOR, SIMPSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/24/2024 at 01:24:09

Onawa Democrat
20 November 2024

Lela Mae Reisch, 95, of Whiting, Iowa, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting, Iowa.

A visitation will be 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Salix, Iowa. Memorial mass will follow at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Reverend Father Shinoj Jose, celebrant, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Lela’s obituary. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Salix. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Lela Mae was born on August 13, 1929, in Seibert, Colorado, the daughter of Vernon and Louise (Taylor) Simpson. She attended schools in Colorado and Kansas City, prior to moving to Salix, Iowa, her sophomore year of high school. Lela graduated from Salix High School with the class of 1947.

Lela and Jim Reisch were united in marriage on April 22, 1950, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix. To this union they were blessed with four daughters: Gayleen, Kathy, Denise, and Mary. Lela was a proud farmwife and enjoyed helping Jim with harvest and any other way on the farm that she could. Together they lived through the flood of ’53, the hailstorm of ’56, a couple of tornadoes, and the house fire of ’08. They celebrated 70 wonderful years together before Jim passed away on October 12, 2020.

Lela enjoyed cards, especially bridge, and loved golf, but the true joy was spending time with her family and friends. Lela said, “Her only claim to fame was two hole-in-one’s.” Her daughters always said her claim to fame was, “She was a friend to many and many were a close friend to her.” As we remember and celebrate her life, we are reminded of the importance of Lela being kind, welcoming, considerate, never meeting a stranger, working hard, never fearing a challenge and believing that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Lela was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, Tabernacle Society, the Sloan Country Club, several bridge clubs, and the Merry Moms. She volunteered at the voting polls for multiple elections and assisted with organizing many Salix School Reunions.

Survivors include her daughter, Gayleen Reisch of Whiting, Iowa and son, James Bieschke and his children, Marisa, Wyatt, Elias, and Lila, and daughter, Kristen Kern and her child, Madina Mrkonjic; Kathy’s children, daughter, Carly (Peter) Lamp, and son, Jon Stahmer; her daughter, Denise (Mark) Clark of Durant, Iowa and daughter, Rachel (John) Fellman and children, Zara and Zane, son Zach (Melissa) Streeter and children, Layla, Ava, and Jax, step son, Aaron Clark, step daughter, Fallon (Erik) Dickes and children, Luke and Justin, daughter, Kayla (Dusty) Wilkie and children, Charlotte, Isla, and Lucy Mae, and daughter, Leah (Kyle) Hoffmann and children, Eliora and Arlo; her daughter, Mary (Joe) Lander of Whiting, Iowa and son Josh (Mandy) Lander and children, Lexi, JJ, Chase, and Evan; nieces, Suzanne Carroll, Carolyn Conklin, and Rhonda Hope; nephews, Ron Reisch, Russ Reisch, Troy Reisch, and Steve Reisch; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James “Jim” F. Reisch; daughter, Kathy Stahmer; parents; sisters, Jane Gearhart and Ann Abernathy; brother, VL (Anne) Simpson; nephews, Clifford Trepanier and David Simpson; sons-in-law, Mike Streeter and Mel Stahmer; and grandchildren, Amy Lander and Jake Lander.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfunerlahome.com