LeRoy Henry Josten

KLEMME – LeRoy Henry Josten, 86, of Klemme, died, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, under the loving care of Nancy and Aaron, at his home on the farm in Klemme.

Public Funeral services will be Sat., Jan. 15, 11 a.m., at the Immanuel Reformed UCC Church, Klemme. The Rev. David Boogerd will be officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Public visitation will be Friday, 4-6 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home, 528 East Main St. Klemme, and will continue at church from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Memorial suggestions include MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center, to the family or the donor's choice, The funeral will be live streamed for those who may not be able to attend on Andrews Funeral Home Facebook page--Just Like the page to view.

LeRoy, the son of August J. and Vergie (Meinders) Josten was born Oct. 5th, 1935, on the family farm Ell Township, rural Hancock County, Klemme. In early childhood he attended country school near his home and and continued his schooling near Klemme. He was active in 4-H in his youth and enjoyed showing and raising beef and hogs. LeRoy was confirmed at the church in Klemme on March 23, 1951.

LeRoy enlisted in the United States Armed Forces on May 10, 1956, at Des Moines. He served in the Army both in France and Germany. He was Honorably Discharged from the service as a Private First Class on April 18, 1958, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

Upon returning to civilian life, LeRoy commenced a career as both a farm hand for is brother LaVurne Josten of Forest City, and during his time living in Rockford, Illinois he was employed from 1967-85 with National Lock Corporation where he was a supervisor in the receiving department. He later returned to the farm in rural Klemme where he continued to help with the farming operation and enjoyed to solitude of country living. He relished life on the farm and in addition to helping with the field work, LeRoy always had a larger garden and beautiful flower beds busting with the beauty and the color of his favorite gladiolas and other flowers. He also loved animals.

LeRoy was married to Hannah, Phyllis and Paula and each union brought the gift of a child to his life including a son Greg, and two daughters Nancy and Crystal.

After returning to Iowa in the mid 1980's, where he lived and worked for his brother LaVurne Josten in Forest City, where he spent several years as a bachelor before placing an ad for a pen pal in the newspaper which received an answer from a gal named June Wheeldon of southern Iowa. The two became Pen Pals and eventually met in 1991 and became a partnership, and the couple resided and enjoyed each other's company on the family farm northeast of Klemme until June passed away in June 2021.

During their years together the two looked forward to family gatherings where they spent time with the children and grandchildren. They enjoyed traveling to a variety of places and to visit family and friends. A favorite destination was to attend Polk Fest in New Ulm, Minnesota. and spending time together doing whatever the day brought their way. LeRoy enjoyed playing games on his telephone and in years past he looked forward to playing cards with family and friends. He and June looked forward to watching their favorite game shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Let's Make Deal and The Price is Right. He also loved to watch the classic old westerns. like movies and was an avid Dances with Wolves fan. He looked forward to any opportunity for conversation and to tell stories about his life and family history and of course most conversations had with LeRoy most certainly were sprinkled with a bit of his quick wit and unique sense of humor. He was proud of his German heritage and family history. LeRoy loved his coffee and the airwaves at the farm were often filled with the TV playing an addition of Polka Fest or the radio also might be tuned to a Polka, Waltz. or some good old classic country music.

LeRoy loved to go fishing with his brother LeAllyn and other family members and often times these fishing outings would turn into competitions where LeRoy was always scheming to be the winner. He truly was a kid at heart throughout much of his life journey he loved to decorate the farm site with larger Christmas light displays and anxiously looked forward to annual shopping trips to buy fireworks and blasting them off. He continued to enjoy this past time even during his 86th year of life!

Over the years he had been a member of the Hancock Co. Coop, Winnebago and Thompson Telephone Co. & Heartland Coop along with Prairie Energy Coop.

He is survived by his son Greg (Lisa) Josten, Washington; and daughters: Nancy (Aaron) Cook, Klemme, and Crystal (George) Sanchez, Illinois; grandchildren: Jason Josten and Ashley Josten of Washington; and great grandchildren: Daniel, Enid, Chloe, and Zoey and adopted great grandchild Daluka; LeRoy's siblings- LaVurne (Sharon) Josten, Forest City and LaVohn (Richard) Smiley, Wisconsin. In addition to many cousins, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents August and Vergie; brother LeAllyn Josten in July 2020, nephews Brett and Thad Josten, and special companion June Wheeldon June 20, 2021.

Andrews Funeral Home-Klemme, IA www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com 641-587-2510.