Leslie Fjestul

Leslie Fjelstul, 91, of Charles City, passed away peacefully the evening of Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah with loved ones by his side.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City with Erik Hoefer officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church.

Visitation will be held from 11-12:30 p.m. before the service at the church on Saturday.

Interment of ashes will be held this summer in the family cemetery in Ridgeway, Iowa where he will be buried next to his twin brother.

Leslie Lavern Fjelstul, the son of Henry and Cora (Field) Fjelstul, was born on Nov. 26, 1932, in Calmer, Iowa. He graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1950 and received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Luther College in 1959 where he met the love of his life, Rosemary Nelson. After high school, Leslie served in the United States Marine Corp. as an expert rifleman during the Korean War. Among Leslie’s responsibilities was the transportation of VIPs and supplies using a diverse range of vehicles. He was stationed in Barstow for 1 ½ years after being one of only 2000 Marines chosen to participate in a mock atomic bomb attack maneuver at the Nevada Proving Grounds (Operation Desert Rock 4). He was then assigned to Airwing and stationed at Kaneohe Bay in Oahu, Hawaii from February 1951- January 1954. Leslie was united in marriage to Rosemary Nelson on Aug. 17, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City. Leslie then went to another nine months of schooling to be an Iowa Highway Patrolman for nine years. He eventually retired from Salsbury-Solvey in Charles City.

Leslie and Rosemary were blessed with two amazing children. Anita in 1959, and Kirk in 1961. They later were blessed with six beautiful grandchildren, three granddaughters-in-law and earlier this year, twin great grand-babies.

Leslie had been a member of Messiah Lutheran Church since 1968, and served on the church council and building and grounds committee. He was also a member of the American Legion and participated in many military funerals over the years. Leslie enjoyed tending to his flower garden, drawing, and building model planes…as well as anything and everything aviation. He loved going to the EAA air show every year in Osh Kosh, WI, and also treated Kirk and Anita to other air shows as they grew up. Leslie loved to travel and did so often with his siblings and their spouses. Rosemary blames him for his children’s passion for traveling.

Leslie was a very talented craftsman and woodworker. He built many projects around his home and his children’s homes, including a beautiful gazebo in his backyard. Leslie loved the company of the family dogs whom he frequently spoiled by sharing his food. Leslie had a great sense of humor and will be remembered fondly for bringing smiles to his friends and family.

Living family members include his loving wife of 66 years, Rosemary; daughter, Anita (Thomas) Zeken of Crystal Lake, Illinois; son, Kirk (Suzanne) Fjelstul of Decatur, Georgia; six grandchildren: Tyler (Chelsea) Zeken, Chet (Amanda) Zeken, Jordan (Sarah) Zeken, Katie Rose Fjelstul, Jake Fjelstul, and Lola Grace Fjelstul; two great-grandchildren, Emersyn and Hudson Zeken; sister-in-law Donna (Merle) Smith, along with many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents Cora and Henry Fjelstul; infant twin brother, Norman Fjelstul; two brothers, Maynard (Gladys) and Charles Richard (Chris) Fjelstul; sister, Charlotte Ruth (Francis) Huber; sister-in-law Iris (Wesley) Anderson; and brothers-in-law, David (Wanda) Nelson and Ronald Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam may be made to The Wednesday Windup Group at Messiah Lutheran Church, 703 3rd Ave in Charles City, Iowa 50616 Or The Michael J Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation: https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=2760

See you at the Funny Farm, Les/Dad/Grandpa! Thanks for creating it for us. Love you so much. “Ya, sure. You betcha”.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.