January 14, 1998

Clear Lake (Iowa) Mirror Reporter obituaries

Alfred Zirbel

Alfred Emil Zirbel, 94, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998, at the Muse Norris Hospice In-patient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake, with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Swaledale, Iowa. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake, and one hour prior to service time on Friday at the church.

Alfred Emil Zirbel was born on May 26, 1903, on a farm in Owen Township, rural Mason City, the son of Herman and Mathilda (Milbrot) Zirbel. He attended and received his education in the Owen #3 School which is now located on the North lowa Fairgrounds.

On Dec. 7,1929, he was united in marriage to Ruth Holt at her father's home in Clear Lake. The couple lived near Rockwell, Iowa, where their first three children were welcomed to the family. This home was also a haven for many other relatives and friends who needed care and love, often for months at a time. It also served as a handy lodging place for school teachers who taught at Mt. Vernon #5 School across the road from the farm. He is believed to be the first farmer in Cerro Gordo County without a horse on the farm.

In 1974, Alfred and Ruth retired from farming and moved to Clear Lake into a house he reconstructed. He also built a duplex apartment house and remodeled several other houses after his retirement. Al enjoyed working. His favorite pastime was dismantling discarded appliances in his garage and salvaging their Scrap value. He also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and gave many away after completing and mounting them for hanging. Al had been a resident of the IOOF Home in Mason City since April 16, 1997, where he leaves many friends, and also at the Clear Lake Senior Center where he regularly attended and appreciated the fellowship and noon meals before entering the nursing home. He was an associate member of the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake.

Alfred Zirbel was a wonderful husband and father. His wife, Ruth preceded him in death on Judy 6, 1996. He is survived by 10 children, Glen H. Zirbel and his wife, Dolores Ankeny, Iowa, Fred H. Zirbel and his wife, Bev, of Mason City, Margaret L Marinis and her husband, Jim of San Bernardino, Calif, Rachel A. Wood and her husband W. Amos Wood, of Clear Lake, Keith A. Zirbel and his wife, Janora, of The Dalles, Ore., Don L. Zirbel and Margy Hayden of Sioux City, Iowa, Paul L. Zirbel and his wife, Kathy of Sun Prairie, Wis., David J.

Zirbel and his wife, Melanie of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mark D. Zirbel and his fiance, Dons Swenson of Clear Lake, Doreen K. Hanson and her husband, Don of Redwood Falls, Minn; 39 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; several nieces; nephews as well as other relatives and friends who mourn his death.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; his parents; and three brothers, Leonard, age 17, Herbert, and Arthur Zirbel; four sisters, Amanda and Lillie in infancy, Mabel (Mrs. Bert) Blum and Rose (Mrs. Cecil) Harrington; and three great-grandchildren.