Merlin J Gubbels
July 28, 1925 — December 5, 2014
Memorial Mass:
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa
Visitation:
5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Parish Vigil Service:
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Inurnment:
At a later date at Calvary Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska
Merlin J. Gubbels was born at Randolph, Nebraska, July 28, 1925, the son of Joseph and Clara Wiehs Gubbels. He was reared at Randolph where he graduated from high school. During World War II, Merle served his country in the United States Army returning to Randolph upon his honorable discharge. On May 15, 1945, Merle was united in marriage with the love of his life, Marvene Leiting, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Randolph. Their union was blessed with three children: Larry, Charley and Jan. The Gubbels farmed at Belden, Nebraska, until moving to Denison, Iowa, where Merle was an insurance agent. After his retirement from the insurance industry, he served as Crawford County Weed Commissioner for many years. Merle was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Knights of Columbus Council 2074 and the American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan as well as a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was an excellent woodworker and glass cutter making many beautiful things for his family. He will be remembered for his love and passion for his family and his sense of humor. Merle died Friday afternoon, December 5, 2014, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, having been blessed with 89 years, 4 months and 7 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, son-in-law and one brother-in-law. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife of 70 years, Marvene Gubbels of Denison, Iowa, three children: Larry Gubbels and wife Marilyn of Glendale, Arizona, Charley and husband David Becker-Ludwig of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jany and husband Tom Lawler of Harlan, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; brother: Gene Gubbels and wife Ailene of Randolph, Nebraska; brother-in-law: Joe Leiting and wife Judy of Stockton, California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial Mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly as Celebrant. Those Concelebrating the Mass included Father Tom Bauwens, Father Marc Lim, Father Andrew Sohm, Father Michael Mukasa, and Father Bernie Byrne. Others participating in the Mass included Servers: Miranda Meyer and Harrison Dahm; Lectors: grandchildren; Gift Bearers: great-grandchildren and Eucharistic Ministers: Tom Lawler and David and Charley Becker-Ludwig. A reading of the poem “Man of the Earth” was rendered by Larry Gubbels, Charley Becker-Ludwig and Jany Lawler. Music for the Mass included St. Rose of Lima Adult Choir singing “Here I Am Lord” “Shepherd Me, O God” and “Amazing Grace” with Jean Cornelius serving as accompanist; Soloist and Pianist LaRee Gubbels singing “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”, “On Eagle’s Wings” and “O Loving God” and a Vince Gill recording of “Go Rest High On That Mountain. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly playing Taps. Inurnment will be at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska. Following the Military Honors all were invited to join the family at the St. Rose Parish Center for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements where a Parish Vigil Service, led by Father Paul Kelly, was held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014, with special music of a recorded selection of “Daddy’s Hands” by Holly Dunn.
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa
Visitation:
5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Parish Vigil Service:
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Inurnment:
At a later date at Calvary Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska
Merlin J. Gubbels was born at Randolph, Nebraska, July 28, 1925, the son of Joseph and Clara Wiehs Gubbels. He was reared at Randolph where he graduated from high school. During World War II, Merle served his country in the United States Army returning to Randolph upon his honorable discharge. On May 15, 1945, Merle was united in marriage with the love of his life, Marvene Leiting, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Randolph. Their union was blessed with three children: Larry, Charley and Jan. The Gubbels farmed at Belden, Nebraska, until moving to Denison, Iowa, where Merle was an insurance agent. After his retirement from the insurance industry, he served as Crawford County Weed Commissioner for many years. Merle was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Knights of Columbus Council 2074 and the American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan as well as a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was an excellent woodworker and glass cutter making many beautiful things for his family. He will be remembered for his love and passion for his family and his sense of humor. Merle died Friday afternoon, December 5, 2014, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, having been blessed with 89 years, 4 months and 7 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, son-in-law and one brother-in-law. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife of 70 years, Marvene Gubbels of Denison, Iowa, three children: Larry Gubbels and wife Marilyn of Glendale, Arizona, Charley and husband David Becker-Ludwig of Omaha, Nebraska, and Jany and husband Tom Lawler of Harlan, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; brother: Gene Gubbels and wife Ailene of Randolph, Nebraska; brother-in-law: Joe Leiting and wife Judy of Stockton, California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial Mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly as Celebrant. Those Concelebrating the Mass included Father Tom Bauwens, Father Marc Lim, Father Andrew Sohm, Father Michael Mukasa, and Father Bernie Byrne. Others participating in the Mass included Servers: Miranda Meyer and Harrison Dahm; Lectors: grandchildren; Gift Bearers: great-grandchildren and Eucharistic Ministers: Tom Lawler and David and Charley Becker-Ludwig. A reading of the poem “Man of the Earth” was rendered by Larry Gubbels, Charley Becker-Ludwig and Jany Lawler. Music for the Mass included St. Rose of Lima Adult Choir singing “Here I Am Lord” “Shepherd Me, O God” and “Amazing Grace” with Jean Cornelius serving as accompanist; Soloist and Pianist LaRee Gubbels singing “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”, “On Eagle’s Wings” and “O Loving God” and a Vince Gill recording of “Go Rest High On That Mountain. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly playing Taps. Inurnment will be at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska. Following the Military Honors all were invited to join the family at the St. Rose Parish Center for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements where a Parish Vigil Service, led by Father Paul Kelly, was held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014, with special music of a recorded selection of “Daddy’s Hands” by Holly Dunn.
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