Leora "Lee" Susemihl , 95, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the Le Mars Bible Church in Le Mars.  Pastor Mike Hulinsky will officiate.  Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023, at the Le Mars Bible Church.  There will be a Prayer Service with Memory Sharing at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Following the services there will be a time of lunch and fellowship at the church. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Services will be uploaded to the Rexwinkel Funeral Home website following the services.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Leora May Hess, the daughter of Harry and Gladys (Sturdevant) Hess, was born on December 15, 1927 in Wheaton, Minnesota.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Taylor E.U.B. Church.  She attended rural school and graduated from Tintah High School in 1945.  Following high school, she attended Westmar College in Le Mars and attained her teaching certificate and taught school for 9 years in Northwest Iowa.

She was united in marriage to Arnold "Arnie" Susemihl on June 24, 1956 in Tenney, Minnesota.  The couple made their home on a farm west of Merrill.  During that time, Lee returned to Westmar College and graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1971.  After their retirement from farming in 1977, Lee returned to teaching.  She was a teacher and librarian at Kissinger Elementary in Merrill.  They moved to Le Mars in January of 1989.  Arnie passed away July 23, 1989.  Lee continued teaching at Kissinger Elementary until retiring in 1992.

Lee was very faithful to her church and devoted to her best friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.  While living near Merrill, she and Arnie were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church – Johnson Township.  She later became a member of the Le Mars Bible Church.  Over the years, she was a member of the Christian Women's Club, Le Mars Friday Club, and participated in several bible study groups.  She always wanted to learn more about her God.  One of Lee's interesting bits of history is that she was once asked to model for Younkers.  She graciously accepted, and lo and behold, she ended up in the Sioux City Journal.  She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and doing Sudoku puzzles.  Her family meant the world to her, and she meant the world to her family. Her home was always busy with family activities, including holiday gatherings and Sunday dinner.

Survivors include her 3 children: Steve (Ruth) Susemihl from Sioux Falls, SD, Julie (Darby) Holsing of Le Mars, IA, and Mark (Donnice) Susemihl of Merrill, IA; 7 grandchildren: Chantel (Travis) Bartels of Fort Collins, CO, and their family, Dylan, Berkley, and Ty; Lindsey (Nate) Snieder of Mason City, IA, and their family, Brooklyn, Jake, Kara, Henley, and Deacon; Lauren (Max) Knobloch of Le Mars, IA; Melissa (Brodin) Anderson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and their daughter, Maia; Jonathan (Breanna) Susemihl of Sioux Falls, SD, and their children, Theodore and Leora; Rebecca Susemihl of Sioux Falls, SD; and Kelli Susemihl of Vermillion, SD; her sister, Barb Gail of Fergus Falls, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Gladys Hess; her husband, Arnie Susemihl; her siblings: Janice Holmes and Jim Hess; and her in laws: Alan Holmes, Roman Gail, Wilma (Ted) Less, and Walt (Marlys) Susemihl.