Lorena C. Gubbels
June 24, 1917 — October 4, 2014
Lorena Catherine Gubbels was born on June 24, 1917 to Nick and Christena (Muell) Mickels on a farm near Panama, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Westphalia through the eighth grade.
After her schooling, she helped her parents on their farm for a few years until starting to work for other families in the area doing housework and watching their children.
On May 28, 1946, Lorena and Bill Stephany were united in marriage and she became a step-mother to Kathleen, Connie, and Gene. One year later, their son Ed was born. After Bill’s death in 1950, Lorena stayed on their farm southeast of Panama.
In 1955, Lorena was married to Harry Gubbels and a son, Glen, was born one year later. She continued to help Harry on their farm until his death in February of 1977. In 1979, she moved to Westphalia. She enjoyed baking, embroidery, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, and canning what she grew. She was a member of St. Boniface Altar and Rosary Societies and the Westphalia Sewing Circle.
Lorena moved to Elm Crest Retirement Home in 2005, where she died on Saturday, October 4, 2014, having attained the age of ninety-seven years, three months, and ten days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Bill Stephany and Harry Gubbels, brothers Michael, John, and Ralph Mickels, sisters Isabelle Sonntag and Marian Klein, step-grandsons Tom Easterly and Jerry Kloewer, and step-son-in-law Roman Kloewer.
She is survived by her children and step-children: Edward Stephany and his wife Mary of rural Harlan, Iowa, Glen Gubbels and his wife Sharon of rural Harlan, Iowa, Kathleen Kloewer of Panama, Iowa, Connie and her husband Robert Easterly of Haxtun, Colorado, and Gene Stephany and his wife Diane of Des Moines, Iowa; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
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After her schooling, she helped her parents on their farm for a few years until starting to work for other families in the area doing housework and watching their children.
On May 28, 1946, Lorena and Bill Stephany were united in marriage and she became a step-mother to Kathleen, Connie, and Gene. One year later, their son Ed was born. After Bill’s death in 1950, Lorena stayed on their farm southeast of Panama.
In 1955, Lorena was married to Harry Gubbels and a son, Glen, was born one year later. She continued to help Harry on their farm until his death in February of 1977. In 1979, she moved to Westphalia. She enjoyed baking, embroidery, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, and canning what she grew. She was a member of St. Boniface Altar and Rosary Societies and the Westphalia Sewing Circle.
Lorena moved to Elm Crest Retirement Home in 2005, where she died on Saturday, October 4, 2014, having attained the age of ninety-seven years, three months, and ten days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Bill Stephany and Harry Gubbels, brothers Michael, John, and Ralph Mickels, sisters Isabelle Sonntag and Marian Klein, step-grandsons Tom Easterly and Jerry Kloewer, and step-son-in-law Roman Kloewer.
She is survived by her children and step-children: Edward Stephany and his wife Mary of rural Harlan, Iowa, Glen Gubbels and his wife Sharon of rural Harlan, Iowa, Kathleen Kloewer of Panama, Iowa, Connie and her husband Robert Easterly of Haxtun, Colorado, and Gene Stephany and his wife Diane of Des Moines, Iowa; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
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