Robert Gebel

Robert (Bob) Gebel, age 88 of North Washington, IA, died Thursday afternoon, December 15, 2011, at the New Hampton Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his wife and children. Joan Nosbisch will serve as lector and the offertory gifts will be presented by Cathy Humpal and David Gebel. Ann Benett will be the organist accompanying the I.C. Men's Choir singing, 'Be Not Afraid', 'Blest Are They' and 'Only A Shadow'. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, North Washington with Adam Gebel, Jeremy Humpal, Lynn Nosbisch, John Dockendorf, Tim Nosbisch and Curt Schwickerath serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the Catholic Order of Foresters, David and Donna Geerts. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2011, at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Catholic Order of Forester Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass on Monday at the church. Robert Michael (Bob) Gebel was born August 20, 1923, in Geddes, SD, the youngest child of Michael E. and Mary E. (Fuchs) Gebel. The Gebel family moved to the New Hampton area in 1937 and Bob graduated from the New Hampton High School with the Class of 1942. The Gebel family then moved to Minneapolis where Bob began working for a roofing and siding company for five years. In 1947 his family purchased the acreage where Bob and Agnes currently reside. On November 20, 1951, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington, he married Agnes Dockendorf. To this union a daughter and three sons were born. Bob was a self-employed roofing and siding contractor in the area for over 30 years. In 1972 when the former Sara Lee factory came to New Hampton, Bob began to working in maintenance until retiring in 1988. Bob enjoyed target-shooting, playing cards, nature and planting trees on the couple’s acreage. He was a long-time member of the Immaculate Conception Men’s Choir, a former North Washington city councilman and volunteer fireman in North Washington. Survivors include his wife of over 60 years, Agnes; one daughter, Cathy Humpal of Lawler, three sons, David (Jacque) Gebel of Aurora, CO, Joe (Donna) Gebel of New Hampton, Chris (Lisa) Gebel of Charles City; one sister-in-law, Florence Nosbisch of New Hampton; eight grandchildren, Stephanie Humpal, Jeremy Humpal, Carrie (Nolan) Herrring, Eva Gebel, Melissa Gebel, Adam Gebel, Lacy Gebel and Mandi Gebel; one great-grandson, Dawson Humpal; one step-great-granddaughter, Joslyn Bormann. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Vincent (Eileen) Gebel; a step-grandson, Justin Gebel.