Donald J. Gebel

Donald J. Gebel, 78, of Mason City, IA, died Monday, December 15, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, December 19, 2014, at Epiphany Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th Street S.E., with Rev. Kenneth Gehling officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at 6:30 P.M. followed by a Scriptural Wake Service. Interment will take place in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Knights of Columbus Council 1006, 551 S. Taft Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401, Epiphany Parish, or the Smile Train (www.smiletrain.org). Donald John Gebel was born June 17, 1936, in New Hampton, IA, the son of Louis and Marie (Kolbet) Gebel. He was raised on a farm near Alta Vista, IA. As a teenager he earned his Eagle Scout Award. In 1954, he graduated from St. Williams High School in Alta Vista. He continued his education at Loras College in Dubuque, IA (2 years) and Xavier Hospital in Dubuque specializing in X-Ray Technology. He then moved to Mason City where he worked as an X-Ray Tech. for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In 1959, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country until his honorable discharge in 1961. Don was united in marriage to Marcella “Marcy” Ludwig on June 18, 1960, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Lourdes, IA. In 1964, Don became employed with Knights of Columbus Insurance where he worked as an Insurance Agent for 39 years. Don enjoyed spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren and great granddaughter. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, traveling, cooking and bird feeding. He was a member of Epiphany Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus (3rd and 4th degree), Moose Lodge, American Legion, Fraternal Insurance Congress (past President) and Life Underwriters. He was also a Cub Scout & Boy Scout Leader, a founding member of the Newman Catholic Foundation in the 1970’s and an active volunteer at Visit Mason City. Don is survived by his wife of 54 years: Marcy Gebel of Mason City; 3 children: John Gebel and wife Susan of Glen Ellyn, IL, Joe Gebel of Minneapolis, MN, and LuAnn Scholbrock and husband Jim of Lake Mills, IA; 6 grandchildren: Jill Schoneman and husband Kyle of Garner, IA, Molly and Dana Gebel of Glen Ellyn, and Paul, Matt and Lauren Scholbrock of Lake Mills; 1 great granddaughter: Berkley Schoneman; 2 brothers: Tom Gebel and wife Marian of New Hampton and Dan Gebel and wife Dorothy of Clear Lake, IA; 1 sister: Barbara O’Donnell and husband Jerry of Cresco, IA; and 3 sisters-in-law: Colleen Gebel of Charles City, IA, Dolores Opat-Ludwig of Clear Lake, and Jenny Grover of Elma, IA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law: Matt and Genevieve Ludwig; 1 brother: Jim Gebel; and 3 brothers-in-law: Alphonsus Ludwig, Wesley Opat and Robert Grover.

Cemetery:
Interment will take place in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Knights of Columbus Council 1006, 551 S. Taft Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401, Epiphany Parish, or the Smile Train (www.smiletrain.org).

Visitation:
Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at 6:30 P.M. followed by a Scriptural Wake Service.