Ballard, LeRoy Dean Sr.

LeRoy Dean Ballard Sr., 83, of Marengo, died Monday, April 22, 2013, at Colonial Manor of Amana. Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Friday, April 26, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Watkins, with Father Craig Steimel officiating. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Marengo. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, with a Forester Rosary recited at 4 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mildred; four sons, Ronald (Wendy) of Marengo, LeRoy Jr. (Linda) of Blairstown, Tom (Kim) of Marengo and Bill (Lori) of Marengo; two daughters, Marie LaGrange (Ken Steelman) of Amana and Linda Moser (Galen) of Marengo; 18 grandchildren, Julie Siebels (Craig), Travis LaGrange, Troy LaGrange (Karen), Martin Ballard (Melissa), Sarah Heims (Brian), Angela Kruse (Jason), Melissa Unkel (Shane), Adam Ballard (Rachel Techau), Terry Ballard (Jodi), Amy Martin (Arick), Ashley Ballard (Bradley Allen), Courtney Upah (Kyle), Nathan Ballard (Stephanie), Scott Ballard (Jessi), Jeff Ballard (Shelby Usher), Christine Ballard, Tiffany Kinzenbaw (Drew) and Tyler Moser (Macie Roberts); 26 great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Matthew, Megan, Christian, Korbin, Kinzlee, Kohle, Kaitlyn, Drew, Shawn, Chelsea, Jonathan, Hailee, Lacey, Aric, Brandon, Ariel, Jaidyn, Logan, Emma, Kiley, Kinley, Maddox, Londyn, Troy and Trevor; and a great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth.

Also surviving are a brother, Richard Ballard; and a sister, Helen Plotz, both of Marengo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Harry, Jim, Bob and Edmond, two sisters, Estelle Kensler and Irene Frimml; and a grandson, Nicholas Ballard.

LeRoy Dean Ballard was born June 29, 1929, south of Watkins, Iowa, the son of Adrian James and J. Esther Whitfield Ballard. He received his education in a one room country school house near his home and spent his youth helping his father with the family farm. On Oct. 30, 1951, he married Mildred Shramek of Swisher, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Marengo. The couple made their home on the family farm and raised six children.

A lifelong farmer, LeRoy loved John Deere tractors, raising cattle and checking the fields on his Gator. He also loved spending time with his family and listening to polka music. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

LeRoy will be remembered as a kind, loving and hardworking man, who loved farming, his wife and his family.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at .

Published in The Gazette April 24, 2013.