Truman Duane Hengesteg,

71, son of Elmer and Sophie (Sandman) Hengesteg, of rural Northwood, Iowa, died Thursday, March 27, 2003, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City after a year-long battle with cancer.

Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. today, March 31, at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood, with the Rev. Allan Stoa officiating. Inurnment will be in the Silver Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery with military honors by Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post #6779 of Northwood. Visitation was from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S., Northwood, and one hour prior to service time at the church.

According to his wishes and the wishes of his family his body was cremated.

Truman Duane Hengesteg was born on Nov. 15, 1931, and raised on the farm in Hartland Township near Northwood that his great-grandparents purchased in 1858, the son of Elmer and Sophie (Sandman) Hengesteg. He was baptized and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation in the Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood. He attended and received his education in the Northwood-Kensett Community school system, graduating from Northwood-Kensett High School in 1949.

Truman was inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 12, 1952 in Des Moines and served overseas in the Korean Conflict with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry, and received various medals including the Korean service medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, two overseas United Nations service medals, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal. Truman was honorably discharged as a sergeant on Feb. 11, 1954. After his honorable discharge he returned to the Northwood area and farmed all his life. Truman was awarded &uot;Outstanding Young Farmer&uot; by the Northwood Chamber of Commerce. He was united in marriage to JoAnn Sharp on Feb. 20, 1954. After their marriage Truman and JoAnn and their three children, Cinda, David and Sue, kept busy with farming, church, school and 4-H activities until JoAnn’s death in 1971.

He was united in marriage to Bonnie (Herman) Sandberg on Aug. 13, 1973, in Glenville.

Truman was a life long member of Silver Lake Lutheran Church, serving on the church council. He was a member of Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post #6779 of Northwood, Elks Lodge #813 in Albert Lea, and was on the Board of Directors at the Northwood State Bank.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Bonnie Hengesteg; three children and their families: Cinda Rustad and her daughters, Kelly, Angie and Hailee, David Hengesteg and his wife Sue and their children, Courtney and Matt, and Sue Johnson and her husband Claude and their daughters, Lauren and Kasey; two step children: David Sandberg and his wife Mary and their children, Matt, Brianna, Lynn, Derreck, and Shelly Kozak and her husband Tony, and Tom Sandberg and his wife Marianne and their children, Dan and Steven; a brother, Rodney; four sisters-in-law: Mary Jaspers, Leona Herman, Dorothy Martin and her husband Jack, and Bonny Nelson and her husband George; many nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Sophie Hengesteg, and his wife, JoAnn.