Kolbeck, Marvin 1918-2007

KOLBECK, HARPENAU

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/28/2009 at 12:27:11

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, February 19, 2007

Marvin Kolbeck, 88, died peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, after a valiant struggle with Parkinson's disease. He died surrounded by the love of his family and with the caring support of both Hospice and the staff of Plymouth Manor Care Center. He will be missed but remembered with the fervent belief of the heavenly life here after.

Born in 1918 in Salem, S.D., Marvin was the only child of Frank and Mary Kolbeck. Raised and educated in Salem, SD, Marvin served overseas in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon his return from the war, he married Rita Harpenau of Le Mars. March 4th would have marked their 61st wedding anniversary. They lived the first two years of their married life in Salem where Marvin worked as a mechanic for John Deere Company. In 1949 he and Rita moved to Le Mars and started his successful farming career. In 1975 Marvin retired from farming and began working for the Le Mars Public School System.

Marvin was a member of both the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In addition he and his family were active members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. Together with his wife, Marvin enjoyed traveling and being together with family and friends. His grandchildren were a very special part of his life and he shared many happy times with them.

He is survived by his wife, Rita of Le Mars; four children: Jane Beller and her husband Chuck of Le Mars, Linda Denner and her husband Bruce of Nashua, N.H., Wayne Kolbeck of Le Mars, and Janet Dirksen and her husband, George of Le Mars.

His determination and patience in battling this cruel disease offered inspiration to those who knew and loved him. He will be lovingly missed by his family including his 14 grandchildren and their spouses, and his six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Linda Peterson Kolbeck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Kevin Richter officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today (Monday) with a rosary at 4:30 p.m., a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. and a Catholic Order of Foresters rosary at 8 p.m. at the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Pallbearers will be six grandsons: Brian Kolbeck, Kevin Kolbeck, Michael Beller, William Beller, Andrew Dirksen, and Scott Dirksen.

A portion of the memorial contributions will be donated to research for a cure for Parkinson's disease.