Rev. David Lee GOBELI

GOBELI, WILSON, MILLER, BOHN, LINDQUIST, HURD, CHANEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/13/2012 at 12:37:34

March 30, 1948 --- January 29, 2012

MASON CITY, IA - The Rev. David Lee Gobeli, 63, of 381 Willowbrook Drive, Mason City, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit of North Iowa, Mason City. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Grace United Methodist Church, Mason City. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, and then one hour before the service on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Meservey Cemetery, Meservey. Family suggests memorials to Grace United Methodist Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

David was born March 30, 1948, at North Iowa Mercy Hospital in Mason City, the son of Lester and Avis (Wilson) Gobeli. David grew up on the family farm north of Meservey, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Meservey. David had serious health problems from birth and at the age of 8 suffered from a very serious kidney illness that only by the grace of God did he survive. He attended Meservey Community School until the eighth grade; then Meservey-Thornton Consolidated Schools until graduating in 1966. After graduation, David held down different jobs one including working at Mercy Hospital where he met Sandra Miller. Dave and Sandi were married on July 12, 1969, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Mason City. The greatest blessing in his life was the birth of their son, Christopher David Gobeli. He was born on Feb. 1977. Dave, Sandi and Chris had some wonderful vacations. Dave shared his love of gardening with Chris. He was always so proud of Chris. It meant so much to him that he was able to participate in the marriage of Chris to Samantha Bohn. The second and third greatest joy was the birth of his two grandsons, Ian and Isaac. They were precious to him and it was important to him that he baptized both of them. For the first ten years of their marriage, David drove semi, during the summer months for Mitchell Transport, in Mason City. During the winter months he hauled livestock for different companies including Bonner Trucking. In 1978 health problems forced him out of trucking. During the next several years he did everything from working in a packing plant, steel and construction work. During that time, he also went back to college and graduated with a degree in Industrial Electrical Maintenance at North Iowa Area Community College. David was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ all of his life. He had many health problems all of his life but he never questioned his faith and he trusted that God was always with him. For many years Dave and Sandi were youth leaders at Grace United Methodist Church, Mason City. He enjoyed helping the youth cut down and sell wood to earn money to buy a bus. He considered them all his kids and loved it when he would hear from one of them. In 1990, he found his real calling and entered the ministry. In 2001, David was ordained an Associate Member and Deacon of the United Methodist Church. During his twenty years in the ministry, he served the Zion (Sheffield), Ventura, Morgan, Lee Center, Bradford, Hancock, and Silver Creek United Methodist Churches. In December 2008, health problems forced him to retire. While at Morgan, Lee Center and Bradford he led a Recovery Bible Study that was very important to him. He also had a truck stop ministry, where he enjoyed having coffee, talking politics and sharing his faith. David loved gardening and raising roses. He enjoyed having coffee and sharing his faith with others. He didn't mind talking politics also.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sandi of Mason City; son Christopher (Samantha) Gobeli and grandsons Ian and Isaac of Britt; brothers Daryl (Norma Jean) Gobeli, Donald Gobeli; sisters-in-law, Jeanyce Gobeli, Marlene Gobeli, Barbara Lindquist, sister and brother-in-law Rhonda and Chip Hurd many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Avis Gobeli; mother-in-law Maxine Chaney, father-in-law Clarence Miller; brothers, Allan and Leonard Gobeli; sister-in-law Marge Gobeli, half-brother, Irwin Lindquist. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
January 31, 2012