Mabel Tunnell

Mabel A. Tunnell, age 92 of New Hampton died Saturday, February 19, 2011, at Wellington Place in Decorah. A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 28, 2011, at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton with Pastor Hermina Amoroso officiating. Gerald Bailey will be the organist with Pete and Phyllis Willadsen will accompany the congregation in singing, 'How Great Thou Art', 'For the Beauty Of The Earth' and 'Amazing Grace'. Interment will be in the New Hampton City Cemetery with Kevin Hassman, Dan Hartson, Gary Roberts, Allen Johnson, Michael Roberts, and John Roth serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service Monday at the funeral home. If you would like to honor Mabel’s memory with a memorial, please send to SNAP, (Spay and Neuter All Pets) P.O. Box 150, New Hampton, Iowa 50659. Mabel Tunnell was born July 24, 1918, in New Hampton, Iowa the daughter of Riley H. and Mary (Morton) Hartson. As a young girl, Mabel had many fond memories of visits with her grandfather, Ira Morton, who lived next door to the family home. Living a block from the New Hampton School, Mabel attended classes (kindergarten through high school) in the same building complex graduating in 1935. In 8th grade, Mabel was the only student to score 100% on an arithmetic test given to all 8th grade students in Chickasaw County. She received recognition for “superior scholarship through performance on the Every Pupil examination in Second Year Latin” and participated in the State Scholarship Contest in Iowa City. This spurred a lifetime of interest in foreign languages. After graduation, Mabel worked as a stenographic secretary for the president of the First National Bank. She later worked for the State of Iowa in the Chickasaw County Social Service Office. On December 21, 1941, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, she married Dr. W.E. Tunnell. After uniting in marriage, the Tunnell’s bought the Morton house, which was their home for over 60 years. Mabel was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, where she was active in the choir and taught Sunday school for many years. She was a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star and Past Matrons. She has been a member of P.E.O. Chapter DL since 1965 and also a member of Iowa Optometric Auxiliary. Doc and Mabel’s interest in traveling took them to all 50 U.S. states and many foreign countries, including a trip around the world in 1970. They spent many winters in Mesa, AZ. Other hobbies included collecting old eye glasses, bowling, researching family genealogy, and attending elder hostels. She enjoyed times spent with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Being kind to animals was an important philosophy of hers. She demonstrated her fondness for dogs with kind words and treats for many family and neighborhood pet dogs. Mabel is survived by one daughter, Lois (Gary) Roberts of Decorah, IA; a grandson, Michael (Lisa) Roberts of Pleasant Hill, MO; a granddaughter Karen (John) Roth of Cedar Falls, IA; four great grandchildren, Kaitlin Roberts, Brayden Roberts, Carter Roth, and Cory Roth; six nephews and nieces, Marlys (Dave) Dodge, Jack LaTour, Judy (Steve) Johnstone, Joan Rucker, Daniel (Kay) Hartson, Riley (Kathy) Uglum; and several great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, W. E. Tunnell in 2002; her parents, Riley and Mary Hartson; one brother, Paul Hartson; two sisters, Pearl LaTour and Stella Uglum.