ABELS, Virgil E. 1926-2011

ABELS, SMIT, ALDRICH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 7/25/2013 at 07:11:35

Virgil E. Abels, 85 of Grundy Center, Iowa passed away Sunday, September 4, 2011 at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa. Funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Reinbeck, Iowa. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral mass at Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Center, Iowa, with military honors conducted by Grundy Center American Legion Post # 349 and AMVETS 17. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, Grundy Center, Iowa. A vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m. and a rosary service will follow. All are welcome to join.

Virgil was born February 9, 1926 in Grundy Center, Iowa to his proud parents Fred and Lena (Smit) Abels. He graduated in 1944 from Grundy Center. After school he worked at Manly Drug Store where he met and worked with Bernice Aldrich, the woman who would become his wife. He served in the United States Army during WWII. Virgil and Bernice were united in marriage on November 30, 1950 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center, Iowa. They welcomed 8 children to their family and raised them in Grundy Center. Virgil was a devoted father and husband. Virgil was retired from the Marshalltown Times-Republican newspaper.

He was a devout catholic and an active member of his church. He earned the Governor's Volunteer awards in 2003 for his volunteering and dedication to the community. He especially enjoyed serving others by providing courier services for the hospital, delivering meals on wheels, and transporting "his ladies" to their appointments. He even was known to move snow for the neighborhood. Bernice and Virgil belonged to the same couples card group for over 60 years. He loved to play cards and enjoyed many games like Bingo.

Virgil is survived by his children; Mary Ellen (Carmen) Lagarelli of Elkton, MD, Marlyn (Terry) Abels of Cedar Falls, IA, Jim (Kim) Abels of Lakeland, FL, Jon (Melisa) of Lake City, FL, Harold Abels of Roanoke, VA, Jeanean (Paul) Willems of Story City, IA, Janelle (Todd) Onnen of Grundy Center, Iowa and Darrell Abels of Olathe, KS; his 26 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; his sister Doris (Fred) Beuttler of Crossville TN, and Ruth (Charles) Ware of Grundy Center, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

--Abels Funeral Homes

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