Leroy Walter Bierwirth
November 17, 1926 — December 17, 2020
LeRoy Walter Bierwirth, 94, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020. Private virtual services will be held at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. All invited guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing. A livestream of the memorial service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for LeRoy, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Inurnment will be held at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, at a later date.
LeRoy was born November 17, 1926 in Des Moines Iowa. There he lived for over 75 years. Des Moines is where he met the love of his life, Miriam Rebecca Baumgartner. They married on December 30, 1950. They spent the next 70 years centered on church and family. In 2005, LeRoy and Becky moved to Cedar Falls and developed many life- long friendships.
LeRoy had a long and successful career in publishing. He worked for over 44 years at Meredith Corporation/RR Donnelly. Well-liked and respected by all, he never shied away from a challenge throughout his many positions of increasing responsibility. He retired in 1987.
The hallmark of LeRoy’s life was his role as a dedicated husband, father, son, and brother. A fond family joke was about Roy being surrounded by women (his harem). He had all sisters, all sisters-in-laws, and all daughters. Even the dog was a female. He took good care of all the women in his life, caring to their every need and constantly driving them anywhere they wanted to go (and they wanted to go a lot!).
He loved to drive, which was a good thing given the previous statement. During his working years, summer vacations were mandatory. Camping with his growing family was his preferred mode of travel. Picture a fold-up camper with a multitude of state stickers on the back. Once he retired, he and Becky would go for weeks at a time, driving their RV across the US. Over the years he and Becky visited every state in the US, but one. Hint: He couldn’t drive there – (Hawaii). Even at 94 he would frequently turn to Becky and say, “Don’t you wish we could just get in the car and go somewhere?”
LeRoy is survived by his wife, Becky of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughters, Heidi Rieff and her husband John of Plano, Texas, Lori Hunt and her husband Dave, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Robin Brophy and her husband Brad, of North Liberty, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, Amanda Rieff, Samantha Rieff, Andrew Hunt and wife Christina, Heathur Aanrud and husband Derek, and Gabi Hanson; and 5 great grandchildren, Ethan, Brandon, Dylan, Autumn, and Kadyn.
He was preceded in death by his mother Mabel Bierwirth, father Walter Bierwirth, and sisters, Doris Stratton and husband Lorenzo, Bernice Pickett and husband Jean, and Betty McNeese and husband Don.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in LeRoy’s name may be directed to the family which will be distributed amongst his favorite organizations.
LeRoy was born November 17, 1926 in Des Moines Iowa. There he lived for over 75 years. Des Moines is where he met the love of his life, Miriam Rebecca Baumgartner. They married on December 30, 1950. They spent the next 70 years centered on church and family. In 2005, LeRoy and Becky moved to Cedar Falls and developed many life- long friendships.
LeRoy had a long and successful career in publishing. He worked for over 44 years at Meredith Corporation/RR Donnelly. Well-liked and respected by all, he never shied away from a challenge throughout his many positions of increasing responsibility. He retired in 1987.
The hallmark of LeRoy’s life was his role as a dedicated husband, father, son, and brother. A fond family joke was about Roy being surrounded by women (his harem). He had all sisters, all sisters-in-laws, and all daughters. Even the dog was a female. He took good care of all the women in his life, caring to their every need and constantly driving them anywhere they wanted to go (and they wanted to go a lot!).
He loved to drive, which was a good thing given the previous statement. During his working years, summer vacations were mandatory. Camping with his growing family was his preferred mode of travel. Picture a fold-up camper with a multitude of state stickers on the back. Once he retired, he and Becky would go for weeks at a time, driving their RV across the US. Over the years he and Becky visited every state in the US, but one. Hint: He couldn’t drive there – (Hawaii). Even at 94 he would frequently turn to Becky and say, “Don’t you wish we could just get in the car and go somewhere?”
LeRoy is survived by his wife, Becky of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughters, Heidi Rieff and her husband John of Plano, Texas, Lori Hunt and her husband Dave, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Robin Brophy and her husband Brad, of North Liberty, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, Amanda Rieff, Samantha Rieff, Andrew Hunt and wife Christina, Heathur Aanrud and husband Derek, and Gabi Hanson; and 5 great grandchildren, Ethan, Brandon, Dylan, Autumn, and Kadyn.
He was preceded in death by his mother Mabel Bierwirth, father Walter Bierwirth, and sisters, Doris Stratton and husband Lorenzo, Bernice Pickett and husband Jean, and Betty McNeese and husband Don.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in LeRoy’s name may be directed to the family which will be distributed amongst his favorite organizations.
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