Herbert Riesselman

Herbert Riesselman, age 94, of Carroll, Iowa, and formerly of Halbur, Iowa, died early Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Swan House Assisted Living in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Friday, July 30, 2010, at St. Augustine Church in Halbur. The Celebrant will be Father Dale Reiff. Lectors will be Janice Moore and Tracey Wagner. Gift Bearers will be Janae Carlson and Jessica Riesselman. Mass Servers will be Stephen Moore, Nick Wagner, and Ryan Carlson. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mary Ann Riesselman, Linda Gilliland, and Susan Riesselman. Casket Bearers will be Andy Riesselman, John Riesselman, Tom Brown, Brent Moore, Eric Moore, Josh Moore, Chad Gilliland, Jeff Wagner, Mark Carlson, and Weston Hulst. Burial will be at St. Augustine Cemetery in Halbur with military honors conducted by the Arcadia American Legion. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 2:30 P.M. Thursday. A rosary will be prayed at 3 P.M. Thursday by the Templeton Knights of Columbus. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Thursday by St. Augustine Parish. Herb was born on April 8, 1916, at Halbur, Iowa, the son of Henry and Catharina (Muhlbauer) Riesselmann. He attended St. Augustine School and then worked as a farm hand. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1942 and served during World War II. He received five Bronze Battle Stars for battles at Rhineland, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged in September 1945. Herb and Dolores Ocken were united in marriage on August 27, 1946, at St. John Church in Arcadia and the couple made their home in Halbur. Herb was a salesman for the J.R. Watkins Company for twenty-one years and from 1968 to 1978 the family operated Herb’s Grocery Store in Halbur and he also worked for the Halbur Water Department. He was a member of St. Augustine Parish, Templeton Knights of Columbus, Arcadia American Legion serving as Post Commander in 1969, was a thirty year member of the Halbur Fire Department serving as its Fire Chief, and was a member of the Polka Club of America. Herb had a passion for music and in the 1960’s and 1970’s played with his “Herb’s Polka Dots” band and later played with “Esther’s Accordian Band”. Herb played his music for family gatherings, retirement centers, nursing homes, and Polka Masses. Survivors include his wife, Dolores Riesselman of Carroll; his children, Linda Gilliland and husband Richard of Leavenworth, Kansas, Janice Moore and husband Charles of Manning, Glen Riesselman and wife Mary Ann of Templeton, and Ron Riesselman and special friend Scarlett Murphy of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; ten grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; his sisters, Marie Wernimont of Sioux City, Regina Frischmeyer of Glidden, Alice Christiansen of Denison, and Kathryn Curnyn of Denison; brothers, Lawrence Riesselman and wife Ada of Carroll, Walter Riesselman and wife Lucille Vail, Andrew Riesselman and wife JoAnn of Carroll, Leonard Riesselman and wife Donna of Halbur, and Vernon Riesselman and wife Betty of Halbur; and sisters-in-law, Edith Riesselman of Kansas City, and Linda Riesselman of Omaha, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; a great granddaughter, Megan Lynn Carlson; and brothers, Vincent Riesselman and Henry Riesselman.

Herbert Riesselman

April 8, 1916 - July 25, 2010