Leo Joseph Effling, 52, of Artesian, died Saturday, March 18, 2017, at his home of an apparent heart attack.
Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, March 22, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian, with burial at Brisbine Cemetery, rural Artesian. Visitation was Tuesday, March 21, at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m.
Leo Joseph Effling, son of Vincent and Esther (Uttecht) Effling, was born Nov. 25, 1964, in Mitchell. He grew up on the family farm in rural Artesian. Leo attended school in Artesian and graduated from Artesian High School in 1983. After high school, he received an ag program degree from Mitchell Vo-Tech.
Leo was united in marriage with Wanda Swanson on Aug. 17, 1985, in Chamberlain. The couple made their home on the Cody Farm in rural Artesian. In 1992, they moved to the family farm where he continued to farm until his death. He was also a Legend seed corn dealer.
Leo enjoyed toy trains, comic books, playing poker, and hunting and fishing with his boys. Leo loved sports and attending his boys’ sporting events.
Leo was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian and also a past member of the Artesian School Board.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Wanda Effling of Artesian; four sons, Taylor Effling of Woonsocket, Nathan (Tatem) Effling of Sioux Falls, Zachary Effling of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Logan Effling of Artesian; his parents, Vincent and Esther Effling of Artesian; five sisters, Lisa (Norman) Neugebauer of Mitchell, Bonita (Michael) Feilmeier of Jefferson, Rita (Jeff) Miller of Mitchell, Lori (Lance) Ischen of Brookings, and Pamela (Adam) Zdrilic of Brandon; his in-laws, Alvin and Gwendelynn Swanson of Pukwana; two sisters-in-law, Marjean (Carl) Rainey of St. George, Utah, and Angela (Jason) Kulm of Mitchell; a brother-in-law, Troy (Monica) Swanson of Pukwana; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Ellen Effling and August and Pauline Uttecht; and several aunts and uncles.