Michael H. Lefler, 61 of Sioux City, went to be home with his savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 7, 2011 in Iowa City.

Services 10:30 am Tuesday, April 12 ^th at Heartland Baptist Church, with Rev. Gene Stockton officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation 5-7 pm Monday at the church, with a 6 pm prayer service. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com .

Michael was born on June 16, 1949 in Sioux City, the son of Wilbur and Laura (Graves) Lefler. He graduated from East High School in 1967. Mike enlisted in the Army in 1968 and after basic training, was sent to Vietnam. Mike was a Purple Heart recipient.

Mike worked for the Burlington-Northern Railroad for over 30 years, retiring in 2000. During 1996, Mike was united in marriage to Jazell Billings.

Mike enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was golfing, fishing or boating. He attended Heartland Baptist Church. His main enjoyment was being with his family, spending time with his daughter Vanessa and his grandchildren Phoenix and Holland.

Mike is survived by his daughter Vanessa Lefler-Larned and her husband Ken Larned; his grandchildren Phoenix Larned and Holland Larned, all of Sioux City; his mother, Laura Lefler-Kruse of South Sioux City; his brothers, Willy Lefler and his wife Kaye, Wally Lefler and Jerry Lefler and his wife Beth, all of Sioux City; his sisters, Jonie and her husband Bill Stephen of Sioux City, Mary and her husband Denny Krier of Sioux City, Jackie and her husband John McKeever of North Carolina, Julie and her husband Dale Benz of Tempe, Arizona and Cindy and her husband Harold Janke of Pender, Nebraska; and his father-in-law, Jim Billings; his stepchildren, Dereck Olson and his wife Briana and Tia Olson, all of Montivedo , Minnesota ; and his special friend, Regina Wofford of Omaha, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jazell, his father Wilbur, and one brother, David Lefler, who died in the Vietnam War in 1969.