Zirbel, Alfred Emil

ZIRBEL, MILBROT, HOLT

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/29/2013 at 00:08:17

Alfred Emil Zirbel, 94, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998, at
the North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, 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
Iowa 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 July 5, 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 Dalles,
Ore., Don L. Zirbel and Margaret 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, Doris 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.