Rudolph “Rudy” A. Tesch, 97, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Rudy was born Sept. 6, 1919, on the Tesch farm near Toeterville, Iowa. He was the ninth child of 11 children born to Otto E. Tesch and Mathilda (Groth) Tesch. Rudy married Virginia Noble on June 25, 1944. To this union six children were born. Virginia passed away unexpectedly after 32 years of marriage.  In 1977, Rudy married Arlene (Thorson)(Kroneman) Tesch. Arlene passed away after a short illness in 2015. They were married 38 years.

Rudy worked on the family dairy farm throughout his life. After retiring from farming he took up golfing and working at the golf course. Rudy had a passion for polka dancing all his life. At the age of 80, Rudy purchased a motor home. He and Arlene wintered in Texas several years. Rudy was a devoted and active member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church, where he readily used his creative abilities time and again. Rudy left a rich legacy for his family because of his day-to day-life of living and loving.

Left to cherish Rudy’s memories are five daughters and one son, Jim and Nancy (Tesch) Bell of St. Ansgar, Norman and Kathleen (Tesch) Johnson of St. Ansgar, Duane Tesch of Carpenter, Iowa, Douglas and Ramona (Tesch) Bleeker of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, Roger and Lori (Tesch) Johnson of Billings, Montana, and James and Brenda (Tesch) Smith of Summerville, Pennsylvania; devoted stepson Darrell and Sherry Kroneman of Austin, Minnesota; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and his youngest sister, Mathilda Olsen, of Horseshoe Bend, Alaska.

Preceding Rudy in death were his parents; wives, Virginia and Arlene; nine siblings; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and two grandchildren, Greg and Hailey.

Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, with the Rev. Lance Kittleson officiating. Burial will be in the St. Peter Cemetery, Toeterville. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, Ia.  641-713-4920. www.schroederandsites.com