Obituaries : Louis Junior Kaiser

VAN HORNE: Louis Junior Kaiser, 91, Van Horne, died Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Windsor Manor, Vinton, surrounded by his family. Funeral services are at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Salem United Methodist Church, Van Horne with the Rev. Michael Townsley and the Rev. Crystal Oberheu officiating, visitation Wednesday evening from 4 – 8 pm at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone. Interment is at the Garrison Cemetery with Graveside Military Rites conducted by Geo. G. Hardinger American Legion Post #475 and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Garrison Cemetery Association, Hospice & Palliative Care Compassus or a charity of your choice.

Louis was born June 20, 1925 on a farm near Independence Iowa, to Louis E and Viola (Likens) Kaiser. He graduated from Garrison High School in 1942. He attended Iowa State College the fall of 1942 and volunteered for the draft in the winter of 1943. He then joined the Army, enrolled in the Paratrooper Training, and ended up in the 101st Airborne Division. He arrived in France in 1945 near the end of World War II.

On November 7, 1948 he was united in marriage to Joanne E Morrow at Pratt Creek Presbyterian Church north of Vinton. They made their first home on the farm northwest of Van Horne until they purchased their farm outside of Keystone in 1963 where they raised their family. Louis was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne. He was also a member of the Garrison Legion Post 475 since 1946, serving as Post Commander, Adjutant and Benton County Commander. He served as a Big Grove Township Trustee and poll official for many years. Louis was a member of the Van Horne City Council and the Benton County Board of Review. Louis was a lifelong farmer in Benton County until retiring to Van Horne in 1988 where Louis and Joanne enjoyed the many visits of their grandchildren, living next door to the football field. Louis and Joanne wintered in Mesa, Arizona from 1997 to 2003, spending time with Louis’ siblings and their wives.

He is survived by his six children Cindee (David) Facion of Cedar Rapids, Michael (Lorie) Kaiser of Keystone, LouAnn (David) Wodstrchill of Cedar Rapids, Larry (Sandy) Kaiser of Van Horne, Gary (Amy) Kaiser of Keystone,and Tom (Julie) Kaiser of Keystone; his grandchildren, Kim (Terry) Robbins, Jodee Barrios (Abner), Jackie (Ben) Seeck, Shane (Michelle) Kaiser, Zach (Collette Barnes) Kaiser, Ryan (Karen) Wodstrchill, Davey (Ashley Ross) Wodstrchill, April (Chad) Upah, Adam Kaiser, Aric (Lyndsey) Kaiser, Alison Pauley, Andrea (Eric) Townsley, Valerie (Tyler) Dingel and Jordan and Justin Kaiser; his great grandchildren, Lexee Robbins, Bella and Alicia Barrios, Hunter, Brody, and Karsyn Semelroth, Sophia and Brynnlee Seeck, Ashley and Tyler Steele, Olisia and Raydyn Wodstrchill, Mikaela, Zoey, Isabelle, Logan, and Wyatt Upah, Ethan, Laurynn, Kylie and Mollie Kaiser, Nolan and Mason Pauley, Emma and Kaiser Townsley, and Addalynne, Brecken, and Ariana Dingel; his brothers Beryl (Gay) Kaiser, Veryl (Eleanor) Kaiser; sisters Barbara (Wayne) Merchant, Kay (Ron) Sieler; sister-in-law Selma Kaiser and many nieces and nephews.

Louis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joanne, his brother Glenn Kaiser, sister and brother-in-law Merldene and Walt Turner, sister Maxine Lockard and an infant sister at birth, and sisters and brothers in law Betty and Marion Keefer and Robb and Alice Morrow.

Heaven gained an amazing man this weekend. Louis was known by many as “Papa Cookie” as he always had homemade cookies waiting for his family. King Louie was an honorable man, a loving husband and father, a veteran, someone who worked the land and raised his children to love and respect God and their country. A special thank you to Compassus and Windsor Manor for their loving care. A very special thank you to his niece, Terri Bahr for her extra time and attention and to his granddaughters, Jackie, April, Alison, Andrea, and Valerie who stepped in and gave their grandpa the extra loving care needed during his final days.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com