Loretta Cassidy Halbach

HALBACH, CASSIDY, KELLY, RUFFLO, PRADO

Posted By: Sharon K HESEBECK (email)
Date: 7/25/2021 at 15:27:35

LORETTA HALBACH
1893-1993
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12 for Loretta A. Halbach at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Primghar. Father
John V. Cassidy of the LaCrosse Diocese and
nephew of Loretta was celebrant and homilist at the Eucharist, assisted by Father Harry
McAlpine, pastor.
Pallbearers were Loretta's grandson, Donald Rufflo, and her nephews, Robert Cassidy,
Donald Shea, James J. Halbach, James L.Halbach and John Shea.
Honorary pallbearers were Alvin Halbach,Herbert Schueller, Reitzell Wright Sr., Richard Sauer, Gary Shea and Milo Schoening.
Lectors were Loretta's nieces, MargaretSullivan and Marion Henneberry. Offertory gifts were
presented by Anita Halbach and Norine Wright.
Philip Shea and Shane Pauling, great-grandnephews of Loretta, were servers.
Sacred Music was sung by the Church choir, accompanied by Toni Bart, organist.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Primghar. with Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Loretta A. Halbach, the daughter of John Charles Cassidy and Margaret Kelly Cassidy, was born on a farm in Dale Township near Primghar. She attended a country school in Dale Township and graduated from Primghar High School in
1911. In 1988, when Primghar celebrated its centennial, Loretta attended the all-school reunion banquet and was honored as the oldest living alumnus of Primghar High School.
On October 7, 1914 she was united in marriage to Joseph H. Halbach at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Primghar.
Two daughters, Jeanette, now a Victory Noll Sister, and Jocelyn, were born to Loretta and Joe.
Loretta and Joe farmed in Dale Township until 1924. At that time they moved to Primghar where Joe and his brother-in-law, Vincent Cassidy, established the firm of Cassidy and Halbach
Hardware and John Deere Implements. Joe was mayor of Primghar for 25 years
during which time the Municipal Light Plant was
built, the streets of Primghar were paved and the property was purchased for the Primghar Municipal Park.
Joe passed away on April 9, 1956.
Loretta continued to live in
Primghar. She was a homemaker, a lifelong member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, a charter member of St. Anthony Women's Guild, a
charter member of the Primghar Woman's Club and
a charter member of Primghar American Legion
Women's Auxiliary. She always took an active part in the affairs of her church and
community. She kept that interest and
involvement throughout her life. She had a keen memory and knew a great deal about the history of Primghar. Although Loretta spent the last six years at Victory Noll in Huntington,
Indiana, she maintained her home in Primghar and returned each year until 1991 to spend the summer there. She delighted in visiting with her family and friends and welcomed all into
her home.
Loretta died at Victory Noll on May 8, 1993. She reached the age of 99 years, five months and nine days.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Joseph; her daughter, Jocelyn Mary Rufflo; her parents; and her brother, Vincent J. Cassidy.
Left to cherish her loving memory are her daughter Sister Jeanette Halbach of Chicago, 1Iinois; one grandson, Donald P. Rufflo; and one granddaughter and her husband, Rachel and David Prado, and great-grandson, Oscar, all of Kenosha, Wi.; and many relatives and long time friends
O'Brien County Bell, Primghar, O'Brien County, Iowa, Thursday, May 13, 1993 page 3