116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Laverne Schlesselman
LAVERNE SCHLESSELMAN
Deep River
Laverne Schlesselman, 83, of Deep River, died at home on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. Services will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River. Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 2, at
Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma from 1 until 5 p.m. Burial will be in Golden Rod Cemetery, Deep River.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Calvary Lutheran Church or Morrison-Schrader American Legion Post 296.
Friends may sign the online guest book at www.hollandcoble
funeralhome.com.
Laverne Harold Schlesselman, son of Martin and Martha (Schmidt) Schlesselman, was born July 9, 1932, in Deep River, Iowa. He attended rural Lincoln No. 1 South (Morgan School), Deep River No. 1 (Weiss School) and graduated from Deep River High School in 1950. Laverne enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he served in the Army Reserve until 1960. During his time in the military he was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal. Sgt. Schlesselman served in a counter fire platoon, Hq & Hq Co. with the 38 Regiment-Second (Indianhead) Infantry Division.
He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River, where he taught Sunday school for 22 years. Laverne served as publications manager for the L.C.M.S. Iowa East District Walther League and committee member for the Iowa District East Youth. He was a former post commander and adjutant of Morrison-Schrader Post 296 in Deep River and former commander of the Poweshiek County American Legion. Laverne also served as secretary/treasurer of Deep River Housing Inc. and was a Deep River Township trustee.
He enjoyed life on the farm and was passionate about genealogy.
Laverne was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gilbert Schlesselman.
He is survived by a sister, Darlene (Robert) Peck of Tipton; and a brother, Cecil Schlesselman of Wichita, Kan. Laverne also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
Daily Newsletters