Roger L. Breitsprecher
Roger Lee Breitsprecher, 86, of rural Elkader, passed away Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Gunderson Hospital in La Crosse, Wis. He was born on Sept. 8, 1937, on the family Century Farm in Clayton Center, to Ervin John and Hilma Ella (Seeland) Breitsprecher. He was their only child.
He lived on the farm and attended rural Clayton Center School, Read Township, through eighth grade. Roger then attended Elkader High School and graduated with the class of 1955. During his high school years, he played football, participated in track and was a member of FFA.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and went to Great Lakes Training Center near Chicago for boot camp. When completed, he went to Port Hueneme, Calif., to school for auto mechanics. Then he was sent to Davisville, R.I., to assist in the construction of his home CB base (Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center). He served as a CB in North Africa (then called French Morocco), Newfoundland and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Roger was honorably discharged from the Navy on Sept. 8, 1958, and came back to Iowa to farm the home farm at Clayton Center.
Roger married his high school sweetheart, Diane Kay Hansel on May 1, 1956, at Zion Lutheran Church. Two sons were born to this union.
He was active in his church, serving on the council and cemetery board for many years. He was a Read Township Trustee and Farm Bureau for Read Township for many years. He sold Vigortone feed and Crow’s seed corn as well as farming and flying. He enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing both on the Mississippi River as well as the local rivers and lakes. He also loved to go to Canada for many years fishing with the Moon Group.
Roger earned his private pilot’s license in 1968, and went on to get his commercial, instrument and multi-engine ratings. He was a member of the International Flying Farmers, Flying Farmers of Iowa and EAA Chapter #368, which he enjoyed. He enjoyed family, going to coffee at Johnson’s and trail rides with his mules.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Brad (Sue) Breitsprecher and Brian (Brenda) Breitsprecher; grandchildren, Andy (Leah) Breitsprecher, Chad (Laurie) Breitsprecher, Amy (Bill) Powers, Brandon Breitsprecher and Blake Breitsprecher; great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Harper, Maraily, Adi, Noah, Natalie and Griffin; brother-in-law, Ivan Freitag; sister-in-law, Barbara Hansel; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Paul Hansel and Dick Harmon; and sisters-in-law Phyllis Frieitag and Sheryl Harmon.
A visitation was held on July 18, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader, as well as at the church before services.
Funeral services were July 19, at Zion Lutheran Church in Clayton Center.
Interment followed in the Clayton Center Cemetery.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader is assisting the family.
