Cecil Martin Schlesselman, 90, died suddenly on April 1st 2026 at his home in Wichita, Kansas.

Funeral services will be April 13th 2026, 10:00 AM, at Calvary Lutheran Church, Deep River, Iowa. Burial with military honors, performed by members of the Deep River American Legion, at Deep River Goldenrod Cemetery. Reception at Legion Hall to follow. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Cecil Martin Schlesselman, son of Martin Johann Hinrich and Martha Gesina (Schmidt) Schlesselman was born on October 9th 1935 in Deep River, Iowa. Deep River's favorite, Doctor Mattie Crain, was the attending physician. His baptism was November 10th 1935. Cecil was a descendant of Heinrich "Henry" Schleßelmann/Schlesselmann Sr., the earliest born (10 Apr 1811) Schlesselmann to come to America; he was from Klein Meckelsen, Germany (earliest born, not earliest to arrive).

Cecil and his brother Laverne attended rural schools and later the school in Deep River. He told many stories about walking to school with his brother across the farm fields and about rural school shenanigans. Sid (nickname) saved his grade reports going back to 1st grade. He earned his GED while in the military.

He worked various jobs around Deep River when not busy at his father's or his uncle's farm. One of his uncles had an ERCO Ercoupe airplane which he got to ride in over Poweshiek County.  When the subject came up of his worst job, he would claim it was at a turkey processing facility in the Deep River area.

Cecil inducted with the US Army January 18th 1955 as a Heavy Vehicle Driver until January 18th1957 with an Honorable Discharge and Good Conduct Medal. He liked to tell stories about transporting infantryman to jungle training camp in the Georgia/Florida swamps, where survival training instructors demonstrated some wild antics. He said he was in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas at the same time as Elvis Presley. Having enough of the Army life, he then joined the US Air Force on February 27th 1957, also as a Vehicle Operator. His most memorable stories were about being stationed in Iceland and what a harsh place it was.  His tales about transporting notable high-ranking officers were interesting. Although not a pilot, Cecil knew about the military planes of the era, and would sometimes embellish a story or two about what he saw. He finished his Air Force service on April 26th 1962 at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. He was in the Reserves until January 20th 1963. Cecil received the Good Conduct medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, and National Defense Service Medal.

He used the GI Bill to go to Radio Electronics school in Omaha to learn the trade of TV repair which was in high demand at the time. He also studied to get an FCC Radio (station) Operator's License. However, opportunities in Omaha led him to a job with the phone company, Western Electric, as a machinist and industrial mechanic. He worked for 'Ma Bell' until his 'golden handshake' retirement at age 55. Thereafter, doing self-employed jobs in residential maintenance, building on to his own house, tinkering with cars and a Ford 8N inherited from his father, Martin.

In the 1960s and 1970s he had side jobs in his basement shop repairing TVs as he had all the needed test equipment and spare parts; making great use of what was learned in Radio School. As TV became solid-state and didn't need as much service, he found another moon-lighting job. Around 1974 a friend at Western Electric was building a home-built airplane that used a modified VW bug engine. Cecil helped his friend convert the engine to use in the home-built airplane. Noticing how easy the VW was to work on, he began buying used VW bugs and restoring them for resale. Sid probably had more than 75 VWs over the years and had some special ones he enjoyed showing off in local parades. Later he sold the favorites to collectors around the country. Cecil was always inquisitive of new technologies and ready to discuss pros and cons of new developments (e.g. Electric Vehicles).

Cecil began married life with Mary Ann Borsh on April 15th 1961 in Omaha, Nebraska where they began a family having five children; John V, Diana M, Paul C, Joseph M, and Rose M. They later separated in 1980. Grandchildren are Jacob, Joseph, Emmaline, and Elisha.

In retirement Cecil became a 'Snow Bird' in the winter staying in New Mexico, and during the hottest time of summer would travel to Washington State near the Canadian Border. He enjoyed visiting family members and touring the country, and in his spare time he would make wonderful toys and gadgets for his grand-kids. Having enough of the seasonal migrations, he settled in Wichita, Kansas in 2011 to be near a son and grand-kids. Around the time of the pandemic, both his sight and mobility began to decline, but he was too nervous to go out to see doctors. However, last December he finally went in to see an eye doctor and had his vision restored by having cataract surgery and was doing quite well. Cecil got around on a mobility scooter in his senior apartment. He remained very sharp and witty until the end, and did not suffer from mental decline.

Cecil is survived by his children: John V {Nebraska}, Diana M (Jeff) {Washington}, Paul C (Nilufer) {Kansas}, Joseph M (Helen) {California}, and Rose M {Nebraska}. Grandchildren: Jacob, Joseph, Emmaline, and Elisha. Sister: Darlene Fern Peck {Tipton, Iowa}, Ex-wife Mary Ann Petersen (nee Borsh), and close friend Dave Klien {Wichita, KS}. As well as many nieces, nephews, and relatives in the Deep River and Cedar Rapids areas.

Preceding him in death were parents Martin, Martha, and brothers Laverne and Gilbert, brother in-law Bob Peck.