Lee Sammeyer

Leander Charles Stammeyer, age 99, (long time resident of St. Lucas, Iowa), died on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at Hillcrest Assisted Living, Sumner, IA where he was currently a resident.

     Lee was born on March 31, 1921 the eldest of 12 children born to Peter and Magdalena (Klemmer) Stammeyer.  Lee was a third generation American.  He was raised on a farm east of St. Lucas.  He attended school at St. Lucas grade school.  In 1938 he was offered a high school scholarship to St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, WI where he graduated in 1940.  

After high school, Lee came home to help his dad (Pete) in the electrical field for a short time before enrolling in the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1941.  After graduating from Coyne in 1942 he attended Radio Operating School in Gallups Island, NY graduating in 1943.  

Later that same year he joined the Merchant Marines.  Lee served on 7 Liberty Ships (cargo ships) and sailed around the world twice.  The ships he served on hauled many different supplies including supplies to Omaha and Utah Beach during World War II.  Lee visited many different ports.  His duties aboard the ship were Officer in charge of communications, radio operator, barber and corpsman.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of Ensign in 1945. 

 Lee married Marian, the love of his life on May 9, 1944.  To this union were born six children: Daniel, Mary Leah, Terry, Mark, Kevin and John.  After service, Lee took up his electrical career with Ralph Kruse.  They had a TV and appliance repair business for a time.  In 1950 he moved his family out to the Schaufenbuel farm to help out.  During that time, he also managed three different rendering plants.  

In 1957, he built a home in St. Lucas and moved his family back to town.  In 1962 the family moved to West Union to be closer to his job with Interstate Power Company and also built a new home there.  His first duties with Interstate were to repair appliances and in a few years he became an electrical structural maintenance engineer in charge of building lines and the line crew.  He retired in 1983.  

Lee held many positions throughout his life.  He was a World War II (Navy) Veteran, Commander of the Legion, Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus, Vice President of the German Historical museum and was awarded the Citizen of the Year honor in St. Lucas.  He built some of the first church altars that faced the congregations for several churches in the area.  He was a cabinetmaker, plumber, carpenter, electrician, homebuilder and owner and maintainer of 16 apartments.  He loved to hunt, fish, camp, bowl and play golf.  

One of Lee’s last ventures at age 94 was to cut several CD’s he called “his oldies but goodies”.  On the CD’s he sang songs in German, Latin and English.  Each morning he said the Rosary and sang the Latin Mass.  If you were there with him, he would have you join in.   

     Lee is survived by his five children: Dan (Carol), Mary Leah (Mike) Johns, Terry (Carol), Kevin (friend, Marilyn) and John (Tina) along with nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.  Brothers: Frank, Joseph, David  (Jackie).  Sister: Anita.  Sisters-in-law: Julie Tallman and Cindy Stammeyer along with many nieces and nephews. 

     Lee was preceded in death by his parents: Peter and Magdalena (Klemmer) Stammeyer.  Love of his life: Marian.  Son: Mark.  Grandson: Jamie Jones.  Brothers: Donald, Richard, Florian and Peter.  Sisters: Margaret, Irene and Marie.  Brothers-in-law: Cletus Herold, Jim Riffle, Nick Kuennen, John Tallman, Tony, Henry, Leo, Ben and Bill Schaufenbuel.  Sisters-in-law: Frances Kuennen, Sister Johanna Schaufenbuel FSPA, Elizabeth (Ben), Elizabeth (Leo) Schaufenbuel, Carol, Rose, Lou and Margarete.