Russell C. Lefeber
April 14, 1929 — March 18, 2009
Russell Constant Lefeber, son of John and Emma Ann (Leinen) Lefeber, was born on April 14, 1929, on the family farm outside of Portsmouth, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth and graduated from St. Mary�s High School in Portsmouth with the class of 1947. After high school, Russell enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in February 1954 after attaining the rank of Specialist.
On June 27, 1950 Russell was united in marriage to Dorothy Branstetter at St. Mary�s of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Six children were born to this union: Lory, Linda, Lois, Lyle, Larry, and Lon. After their wedding, Russell and Dorothy made their home in Portsmouth before moving to Harlan in 1970, where Russell started Lefeber Refrigeration in 1971. Russell also worked at the Pork Plant in Harlan and was the president of the Worker�s Union for several years. He also spent considerable time studying refrigeration and air conditioning.
Russell was a member of St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan and was very active with the Knights of Columbus Harlan Council No. 3900 where he held several offices including Grand Knight. He was also a Fourth Degree Member of the Luke E. Hart Assembly, Knights of Columbus and its Chalice Club of Defiance.
Russell died on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months, and four days. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Eugene, Richard, Ernest, and Robert.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Harlan, Iowa; their children: Lory Thomsen of Denison, Iowa; Linda and her husband Craig Williams of Woodbine, Iowa; Lois and her husband Bill Goetzinger of Westphalia, Iowa; Lyle Lefeber and his wife Jane of Omaha, Nebraska; Larry Lefeber and his wife Sharon of Omaha, Nebraska; Lon Lefeber and his friend Gayle Main of Clarinda, IA; twenty grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren; his sisters Margie and her husband Ray Dean Gordon of Dow City, Iowa and LaVonne and her husband Paul Jensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his sisters-in-law Stella Lefeber and Irene Lefeber both of Portsmouth, Iowa; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrated the 10:00 AM service. Military Rites were held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, by Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150. Serving as honorary casket bearers were Becky Nelson, Anastasia Lefeber, Trina Ortwine, Brenda Mintle, Katherine Lefeber, and Jennifer Daggett. Casket bearers were Troy Price, Benjamin Lefeber, Jason Nielsen, Aaron Williams, Matthew Williams, Brian Williams, Jeremy Nielsen, Nicholas Lefeber, and Joshua Nielsen.
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On June 27, 1950 Russell was united in marriage to Dorothy Branstetter at St. Mary�s of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Six children were born to this union: Lory, Linda, Lois, Lyle, Larry, and Lon. After their wedding, Russell and Dorothy made their home in Portsmouth before moving to Harlan in 1970, where Russell started Lefeber Refrigeration in 1971. Russell also worked at the Pork Plant in Harlan and was the president of the Worker�s Union for several years. He also spent considerable time studying refrigeration and air conditioning.
Russell was a member of St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan and was very active with the Knights of Columbus Harlan Council No. 3900 where he held several offices including Grand Knight. He was also a Fourth Degree Member of the Luke E. Hart Assembly, Knights of Columbus and its Chalice Club of Defiance.
Russell died on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months, and four days. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Eugene, Richard, Ernest, and Robert.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Harlan, Iowa; their children: Lory Thomsen of Denison, Iowa; Linda and her husband Craig Williams of Woodbine, Iowa; Lois and her husband Bill Goetzinger of Westphalia, Iowa; Lyle Lefeber and his wife Jane of Omaha, Nebraska; Larry Lefeber and his wife Sharon of Omaha, Nebraska; Lon Lefeber and his friend Gayle Main of Clarinda, IA; twenty grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren; his sisters Margie and her husband Ray Dean Gordon of Dow City, Iowa and LaVonne and her husband Paul Jensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his sisters-in-law Stella Lefeber and Irene Lefeber both of Portsmouth, Iowa; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrated the 10:00 AM service. Military Rites were held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, by Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150. Serving as honorary casket bearers were Becky Nelson, Anastasia Lefeber, Trina Ortwine, Brenda Mintle, Katherine Lefeber, and Jennifer Daggett. Casket bearers were Troy Price, Benjamin Lefeber, Jason Nielsen, Aaron Williams, Matthew Williams, Brian Williams, Jeremy Nielsen, Nicholas Lefeber, and Joshua Nielsen.
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