Richard Sietmann, age 81
The loving spirit of Richard Sietmann, age 81, of Marshalltown and formerly a longtime Laurel area resident, left this earthly life early on the morning of Tuesday, December 30th, while at the Iowa River Hospice Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 3rd, at the Laurel United Methodist Church with Rev. Scott Lothe officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery at Laurel. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in his memory to the Laurel United Methodist Church or Iowa River Hospice. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.
Born at home on June 26th, 1933, in Laurel, he was the son of Carl and Ethel (Hill) Sietmann. Richard graduated from the Laurel High School in 1951 and soon after, on June 28th, was united in marriage to the love of his life, Donna Waterman, at the Laurel EUB Church. The rural Laurel area was home to the young couple who welcomed three children into their lives: Danny, Sheryl and Kathy. Richard was a hard-working man who farmed as well as raised cattle and ran the family business. He later owned and operated the elevator in Ferguson. He supported the Laurel community and was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church, the Cattleman’s Association, Laurel Co-Op and was a charter member of the Laurel Lion’s Club. He and Donna were also avid golfers and members of Lincoln Valley, and one year he successfully scored three holes-in-one! He treasured his family, the many trips he shared with Donna, farming, golfing, the Iowa State Cyclones and winters in Florida.
Left to cherish his memory are Donna, his loving wife of 63 years; three children: Danny (Patty) Sietmann, of Birch Run, Michigan, Sheryl (Tim) Larson, of Omaha, and Kathy Rosedale (Bea Klauenberg), of Marshalltown; as well as many treasured grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sisters: Betty Benskin, of Marshalltown, who joined Richard in heaven a mere 14 hours after he passed; Beverly (Arthur) DeWitt, of Marshalltown, and Joyce (David) Paul, of Gilman, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
In death, he rejoined his parents and half-sister Fern Atkinson.