Gilbert H. "Gib" Nesler 1912-2010

NESLER, TIMMER, BAHNING, LAMPKIN, QUADE, BAMBERGER

Posted By: Cheryl Moonen (email)
Date: 1/17/2015 at 20:20:19

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, November 28, 2010

DYERSVILLE, Iowa - Gilbert H. "Gib" Nesler, 98, of Marshalltown, formerly of Dyersville, died Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, at the Marshalltown Medical Center.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with the Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where there will be a parish scripture service at 5:30 p.m.

He was born on Nov. 20, 1912, in Worthington, son of Henry Nesler and Veronica (Timmer) Nesler. After the death of his mother in 1915, the family moved to Dyersville, at which time his mother's sister, Mary Timmer, came from Minneapolis to raise her sister's three small children.

He married Margaret Bahning on June 6, 1940, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica; she preceded him in death. He was a lifetime member of the parish.

He received his education at St. Francis Boy's School, conducted by the Marian Brothers, and graduated in 1929. He attended college for two years. He then went into the retail furniture business for the next 40 years, first in partnership with his father, Henry, and in 1937, a partnership with Ray Goedken. They constructed a new building in 1951, which was struck by lightning and consumed in a major fire in 1953, after which a second new building was erected.

He was past president of the Dyersville Commercial Club in 1959, and for several years chairman of the Merchants Committee. For many years, he was on the board of directors of the Dyersville Historical Society and was involved in the purchase, restoration and furnishing of the Dyer-Botsford House, a Victorian home built by the founder of Dyersville. In 1955, for his efforts in the restoration, he received a volunteer award at the Governor's Volunteer Ceremony. He was an avid fisherman and fond of gardening.

Surviving are his daughter, Suzanne (Emmett) Lampkin, of Marshalltown; and sons, Dennis (Andrea) Nesler, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Fred (Janell) Nesler, of Omaha, Neb.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Nesler; and sisters, Dorothy Quade and Bernice Bamberger.

Memorials may be given to Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque.

Information is available and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.