Eugene McGrath

Eugene Daniel “Gene” McGrath age 89 of New Hampton, Iowa died Saturday evening, March 19, 2011, at the New Hampton Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by his children. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Jim McGrath and Dianne Fahey. Pallbearers will be Wayne Beebe, Patrick McGrath, Mike Telkamp, Trevor Telkamp, Trenton Telkamp and Brian Randt. Honorary pallbearers are Dick Orthaus, Bill Prouty, Tony Larson and Steve McGrath. Military honors will be conducted by the New Hampton American Legion and V.F.W. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2011. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, New Hampton where there will be a 6:00 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to Mass at the church on Wednesday. Gene was born December 7, 1921, near Bassett, IA, the son of Daniel and Ethel (Albaugh) McGrath. He received his education in rural country schools and was a 1939 graduate of the Nashua High School. He was inducted into the United States Navy in 1940 and saw active service during WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1946. On January 29, 1944, in Norfolk, VA, he married Glenna Mae Martin. To this union four children were born. After returning home from the war, Gene joined the family business, McGrath Implement. He and his two brothers later purchased the business. He loved his implement business and finally retired in 1986. It is during retirement that Gene developed his love for woodworking and making stain-glass. Many of his projects can be seen throughout the community. His wife Mae died on November 1, 1997 at the age of 72. Survivors include one son, Jim McGrath (Dianne Fahey) of Farmington, MN; three daughters, Cathy (Andy) Wangstad of Kent, WA, Mary (Wayne) Beebe of Manitowoc, WI and Helen (Garry) De Sloover of San Tan Valley, AZ; a special friend, Edna Drewis of Osage; 14 grandchilddren; thirty-five great-grandchildren; one brother, Gerald (Rose) McGrath of Wauwatosa, WI; three sisters-in-law, Emma McGrath of Palmdale, CA, Mary Jean McGrath of Oregon, WI and Ruth McGrath of New Hampton; one brother-in-law, Don Rasmussen of Cedar Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; three brothers, Burke McGrath, Merle McGrath and Bob McGrath; one sister, Marilyn Rasmussen.