Lloyd Walter Weber died Nov. 24, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa, just a few weeks before his 90th birthday.
A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. A rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the church with visitation from 10-11 a.m. A luncheon will be served following Mass. Interment will take place at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Riverside at a later date.
Lloyd was born Dec. 11, 1934, in Clear Creek Township in Washington County, Iowa, the first child of Bernard and Viola (Horras) Weber. As a young boy he enjoyed helping his dad with farm chores, playing with his Tinker Toys and Erector set. His love of farming, taking things apart and putting them back together foretold his future career as a guy who could fix just about anything.
Lloyd attended Five Oaks Country School, a one-room schoolhouse, and later Sts. Peter & Paul Parochial school. The family moved to a farm southeast of Sigourney in 1947, where he attended junior high and high school, graduating from Sigourney High School in 1953.
After graduation, Lloyd helped his dad with livestock and grain farming, eventually stepping away for a position as a welder at Pamco in Keota. As a young man, he enjoyed taking trips with his buddies to Las Vegas, Mexico, Cuba and the American Southwest.
In 1959, Lloyd took a job as a mechanic at Vogel Sales & Service in Sigourney, working for the next 55 years in the farm equipment industry. He was an excellent problem solver, repairing and modifying everything from corn planters to combines, ensuring farmers got the most from their farm equipment investment.
In 1960 he met Frances Shebek and following a short courtship they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside on Feb.11, 1961. They became parents a little more than two years later and lived and worked in Sigourney for nearly 25 years. In 1985, Lloyd, Fran and daughter Pam moved to Conrad, Iowa, where they worked and lived for 17 years.
Wherever he lived, Lloyd was active in his church and community. As a young man he served the priest on the altar during Latin Mass. He was a Eucharistic Minister and member of the parish council at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in both Sigourney and Marshalltown. He also served as a volunteer and Eucharist Minister at St. Mary’s in Riverside. He was a city Ccuncil member in both Sigourney and Conrad.
In 2002 Lloyd and Fran built a retirement home on Fran’s family’s Century Farm in Riverside. He took great pride in this land, especially the timber he planted and nurtured (his “park”). He tended to the farm’s wetlands and forest conservation projects, and kept his skills sharp with an occasional tractor repair project. Late in life he took up woodworking, gifting friends and family with handcrafted wooden boxes, cutting boards and other treasures.
Lloyd was a fan of a good nap, a cold beer and a bowl of ice cream before bed. He loved old western movies and country music, playing Canasta and Euchre with his kids, and dominoes with his grandkids. He enjoyed coffee with his buddies at the Travel Mart, Sunday drives in the countryside, and Fran’s good cooking. Lloyd was hardworking, resourceful, loyal, honest and fair.
A wonderful son, brother, husband, father and friend, Lloyd is survived by his wife of 63 years, Fran; children: Beth Elkin, Denise (John) Bridenstine, Greg (Rhea) Weber and Pam (Greg) Nims; grandchildren: Anna and Jaret Elkin, Brooke, Alec (Kristen Crawford) and James Bridenstine, Michael Kilic, Erin (James) Berardi, Ben Weber and Sophie and Katie Nims; sisters: Rosemary Appleget, Joanne Ungs, and Francine (Frank) Besser; and brother: Gary (Martha) Weber; sister-in-law: Patricia Shebek; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law: Clarence Appleget, Herbert Ungs, Edward Shebek, Paul Shebek, Robert Hamer and Leo Huffman; and sisters-in-law: Mary Huffman, Patricia Hamer, Gertrude Shebek, and Joan Shebek; three nephews and one niece.
A lifelong learner, Lloyd had a natural curiosity about many things. He also experienced many health challenges, including living 60 years as a Type 1 diabetic. His longevity can be attributed to him being a good steward of his own health and advances in modern medicine. As a result, Lloyd deeded his body to The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in support of medical education to improve the quality of life for others.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish, 51 St. Mary’s Street, Riverside, IA 52327 or St. Vincent’s Cemetery, c/o John Strabala 1414 Freedom Drive, Riverside, IA 52327
