Funeral services were held Sunday, March 10 at Peace United Methodist Church, Pipestone, with Lay Pastor Judith Miller-Qualley officiating.
Casket bearers were Christian Hess, Jesse Krell, Bryan Hess, Andrea Keller, Joanna Wallenberg, Heidi Hess, RP McGuire, James Keller, Ryan McGuire, Carter Hess, Braden Hess, and Ali Jo Hess.
Interment was in New Woodlawn Cemetery, Pipestone.
Military honors were provided by Michael Boock American Legion Post #6 and VFW Post #3814, Pipestone.
Leo Vernon Hess was born to Vernon and Josephine (Newell) Hess on Aug. 18, 1922 on a farm southwest of Grundy Center, Iowa. In 1928, he moved with his parents to a farm southwest of Pipestone where he was raised and attended country school in District #35. He continued his education at Pipestone High School. After his high school graduation in 1940, he helped on the family farm. In 1944, he entered the U.S. Army and served in Europe during World War II, earning numerous medals, including the Purple Heart with Clusters and the Presidential Citation. When he was discharged from the service on April 13, 1946 he returned to the family farm.
In December 1948 he married Inge Gunzrodt at Zion United Methodist Church in Pipestone. Following their marriage they lived on the farm.
On April 12, 1980 he married Anna Demars. After their marriage they lived on the farm and Leo continued to work the land until his retirement in 1994 at the age of 72.
Anna preceded him in death on March 25, 2011. After her death, Leo remained on the farm.
On Dec. 18, 2012 he was admitted to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Sioux Falls.
He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in rural Pipestone since 1928. He was also a member of the first Honor Flight for World War II veterans from southwest Minnesota to tour Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his five children, Leo Hess Jr., Sioux Falls, Paul (Candi) Hess, Sioux Falls, Mary Jane (David) Keller, Park Rapids, Dean (Marcie) Hess, Clear Lake, Iowa and Robert (Becky) Hess, Sioux Falls; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; his three step-children, Jerry (Vera) Demars, Walker, Edith “Louise” (Harold) Appeldorn, Pipestone and Karen (Jerry) Peterson, Grand Blanc, Mich.; 10 step-grandchildren 12 step-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lois Benson, Wausau, Wis., Dorothy Stratton, Ankeny, Iowa and Donna (Jim) Hoey, LeMars, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; two brothers, Wayne and Ralph Hess; two sisters, Ruth Rogan and Letha Conrad and one step-granddaughter, Nicole Peterson.
(Hartquist Funeral Home,
Pipestone Chapel)