March 29, 2024

Leo E. Versteegh

Leo E. Versteegh, 91, of Newton died Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013, at his home.

A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials to the Jasper County Animal Rescue League or the American Cancer Society may be left at the funeral home.

Leo, the son of Sam and Leota Versteegh, was born on Sept. 8, 1921, in Sully. He graduated from Newton High School in 1941. Leo served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart. After returning from the service he made his home in Newton. Leo was a service station attendant working for Glen Wherman’s Shell for 30 years and for Bob Spain Skelly Oil Company for 10 years. He retired from Bob Spain’s in 1986.

Leo was united in marriage with Doris E. Smith. Together they had one son, David. Following Doris’s death Leo was married to Delores Versteegh in November of 1982.  Leo was a member of the First Lutheran Church. He was an avid car man and loved everything about cars including looking at them, buying them, washing them, and going on his nightly car ride. Leo also enjoyed his morning coffee at Maid-Rite, golfing, working in his yard, and traveling. In his younger years he rode motorcycles. Leo had a love for animals, always taking in a stray cat or feeding the birds in his yard. He was honored to be a member of the first Jasper County Freedom Flight.

Those left to honor Leo’s memory are his wife, Delores of Newton; step-children, Stephanie (Bill) Conklin of Newton and Steve (Julie) Oswalt of Des Moines; his grandchildren, Amber (Brian) Bird, Sarah (Tracy) Jorges, Tommy (Angie) Oswalt, Lori Warden, Nicole (Mark) Patience, Andrea (Josh) Matson, Heather (Jess) King and Christopher Conklin; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Doris; his son, David Versteegh; and three brothers.