Leonard Raymond Neitzel

Leonard Raymond Neitzel, the son of Raymond and Catherine (Beutel) Neitzel, was born February 8, 1939, in Carroll, Iowa and died September 22, 2021, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 82, years, 7 months, and 14 days.

Leonard was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. He attended rural schools then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1957. Leonard then helped operate the family farm and helped other area farmers.

On August 22, 1964, he was united in marriage to Joan Frances Hoesing at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral in Omaha, Nebraska. They were blessed with three children Paul, Laura, and Jodi. They farmed west of Templeton, Iowa for a short time and in 1968 moved to the home place north and west of Audubon, Iowa. They grew row crops, raised livestock and baled hay for many years until he retired from farming. Joan died August 5, 1999. During retirement Leonard rented his land and helped other area farmers until he suffered a stroke. He lived on the farm and with his daughter Laura until he moved to the Exira Care Center in 2018.

Leonard was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon, Iowa and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved to go to farm sales and look at all the equipment. Leonard loved to eat and would drive many miles for a free meal. One of Leonard’s passions was to attend the Clay County Fair every year. The family would pack a picnic meal and spend an entire day enjoying all the festivities. He was a people person and enjoyed talking to the many people he met. Leonard loved holidays for all the food but above all he enjoyed them so much because he could spend time with his family especially his grandchildren.

Preceding him in death was his wife Joan F. Neitzel; his son-in-law John Howard Nuzum; his grandsons Zachary Neitzel and Elijah Karas; his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law Julius and Alverda Hoesing; his brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Joe Kellen, James Hoesing, Judith and husband William Sage, Tom Hall, and Darrell Rattenborg.

Survivors include his children Paul Neitzel of Audubon, Iowa, Jodi Neitzel of Des Moines, Iowa, and Laura and husband Clint Karas of Oakland, Iowa; his ten grandchildren: Chris Neitzel, Jesse Neitzel, Kjersten Neitzel, Brooke Neitzel, Cherokee Neitzel, Ariel Neitzel, Draven Neitzel, Evan Karas, Elaine Karas, and Carsten Karas; numerous great grandchildren; his sisters Elizabeth Kellen of Alton, Iowa and Eva Neitzel of Carroll, Iowa; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Pat Hoesing of Battle Creek, Michigan, Jean and husband Ron Perkins of Grand Haven, Michigan, Janet Hall of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Joyce and husband Brian Ahlquist of Sugarland, Texas, Joletta Hoesing and Jerri Fisher both of Omaha, Nebraska, June and husband Jack Carlile of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jacque Rattenborg of Webster City, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

The family will meet with friends Monday evening September 27, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father David Nkrumah on Tuesday morning September 28, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery south of Audubon, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Chris Neitzel, Clint Karas, Evan Karas, Randy Dreher, Clint Rosenbeck, and Michael Bauer.