Obituary of Lyal Charles Pfeiler

RICKARDSVILLE, IOWA

Lyal C. Pfeiler, 84, of Rickardsville passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

A Prayer Service will be held at 3 p.m., followed by visitation until 8 p.m. on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross.  Visitation will continue at Kramer Funeral Home from 9 - 10 a.m. on Tuesday prior to the funeral mass.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30     a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Holy Cross with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Tyler Raymond will officiate.

Lyal was born on February 11, 1939, in Holy Cross the son of Al and Lorraine (Brecht) Pfeiler. He attended Holy Cross Grade School and graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1957, where he met the love of his life, Melita Wolf. They married on April 30, 1960, at St. Joseph’s Church in Rickardsville.  

Faith, family, farming, and service were important to Lyal. Together, he and Melita farmed near Holy Cross, milking registered Brown Swiss and raising hogs. They received the Century and Heritage Farm Awards. He was awarded Outstanding Young Farmer, Master Pork Producer, and Outstanding Dairy Farm Family. Lyal served on various boards, including Farm Bureau, Maquoketa Valley REC, Swiss Valley Ag., Dubuque County Pork Producers and Dubuque County Dairy Board. He was a founding member of the Leo High Endowment Board as Catholic education was very important to him. Lyal was active in the Holy Cross Parish as a parish council and choir member, Eucharistic minister, and lector. He passed along the values of faith and hard work to his seven children.

As part of their daily routine, Lyal and Melita viewed Mass on the iPad. They enjoyed many travels to foreign countries visiting farms. In later years, they enjoyed multiple cruises. Lyal and Melita also enjoyed fishing on the Mississippi, just drowning worms for whatever was biting.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Melita, children: Julie (Dan) Neebel, Joe (Kathy) Pfeiler, Janet (Rod) Hess, Jim (Mary) Pfeiler, John Pfeiler, Joyce (Tom) Pasker and Jolene (Ron) Link; grandchildren: Andrew Neebel, Kate (Aaron) Burke, Blake (Erin) Neebel, and Paige (Alex Rottinghaus) Neebel, Aaron (Laikyn) Pfeiler, Adam Pfeiler, and Livia Pfeiler, Mitch (Amanda) Hess, Leah (Lee) Rohrer, Chandler Pfeiler and Garrett Pfeiler, Chelsie (Terry) Frost, Brianna (Ryan) Kluesner, Austin (McKenzie) Pfeiler, Jordyn (Tim Althaus) Pfeiler, Brooke Pasker, Rachel (Hunter) Bergfeld, Logan Pasker, Troy (Molly) Pasker, Justin (Jessica) Decker, Ryan (Becca) Decker; and 20 great grandchildren; siblings: Louis Pfeiler and Barb (Roger) Kueter; in-laws: Mary (Donnie) Brimeyer, Leon Wolf, Alice Cook, Carolyn (Jim) Pimlott.

He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, John and Clara Wolf, granddaughter, Kayla Decker, great-granddaughter, Maddie Burke; in-laws: Carol Pfeiler, Donald (Dolores and second wife, Dorothy) Wolf, Dale Cook, Rose Wolf, Marvin Wolf, and Francis Wolf.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to any Catholic school of your choice, Dubuque County Right To Life, or Holy Cross Parish.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040.