Marie Gebel

Marie E. Gebel, age 95 of Alta Vista, IA died on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Colonial Manor in Elma. Marie Elizabeth Gebel was born on December 14, 1913 in Deerfield Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Ravers) Kolbet. She attended school in Alta Vista and graduated from St. Williams High School. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Louis Peter Gebel on October 11, 1932 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Alta Vista. This union was blessed with four precious sons and one precious daughter. Marie and her husband farmed in the Alta Vista area until his sudden death on December 28, 1954. Marie and her family moved to Alta Vista in 1957. She worked at St. Williams School, Weber Variety Store and Newspaper, and later worked at the Alta Vista State Bank from 1958 until her retirement in 1980. Marie was the matriarch of her family and always will be. Her devotion to her beloved Louis, her five children and their families was constant. She was especially proud of the accomplishments that her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren achieved. She was also very proud of her white Buick and her white house which was the center of so much enjoyment for family and friends. She enjoyed her numerous friends, that she was truly a friend to at all times. Playing cards with family and friends made her very happy. She was a very good seamstress and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. She enjoyed her plants, especially her violets, and gardening was one of her favorite past times. Maries strong faith and love for St. Bernards Catholic Church truly made her the genuine person she was. The greatest memories of Marie will be the magnificent family meals she prepared, her gorgeous smile, and her contagious laughter. Marie is survived by her five children Jim (Colleen) Gebel of Charles City, IA, Tom (Marian) Gebel of New Hampton, IA, Don (Marcy) Gebel of Mason City, IA, Dan (Dorothy) Gebel of Clear Lake, IA, and Barb (Jerry) ODonnell of Cresco, IA. Marie was a very special grandmother to 18 grandchildren, numerous great- and great-great- grandchildren; four sisters-in-law Geneva Kolbet of Osage, IA, Lorraine Kolbet, Florence (Gebel) Mettner and Matilda Gebel all of New Hampton, IA, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Louis; four brothers Leonard Kolbet in infancy, Joseph Kolbet, Paul Kolbet and Nicholas Kolbet; two sisters Leone Lentz and Evelyn Adams. Memorials: Memorials preferred to St. Bernards Catholic Church, Alta Vista, or the Colonial Manor, Elma. Cemetery: Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with Tim Gebel, John Gebel, Joseph Gebel, Mike Gebel, Patrick Gebel, Darren ODonnell, Kelly ODonnell, Andy Gebel and Ryan ODonnell serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Deb Winter, Terri Allen, Danette Johnson, Denise Cummings, Diane Jones, Suzanne Gebel, LuAnn Scholbrock, Beth Hoppel and Nicole McGlynn. Visitation: Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in Elma with a 5:00pm scriptural wake service followed by a rosary. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday. Service: Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at St. Bernards Catholic Church, in Alta Vista, IA with Father Ray Atwood as celebrant.