Willis Evanel MUHLENBRUCH

MUHLENBRUCH, NELSEN, DENGER, ODLAND, FINCH, WIARDA, WADSWORTH, MANAHL, POTHAST, WEGNER, DEVORE, ARENDS, DISHMAN, BERDAHL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/13/2014 at 12:15:40

October 16, 1929 --- October 9, 2014

Willis E. Muhlenbruch, age 84, of Dows passed away Thursday October 9, 2014 at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton. Funeral services for Willis E. Muhlenbruch will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday October 13, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church in Dows. Pastor Shawn Hill will officiate. Burial will be in the Fairview cemetery in Dows. Graveside military rites will be provided by the Dows American Legion Ceremonial Unit. Visitation for Willis E. Mullenbruch will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 P.M. Sunday October 12, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church in Dow and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Willis Evanel, the son of William “Bill” and Edna (Nelsen) Muhlenbruch was born October 16, 1929, near Alexander, Iowa. Willis attended country school, and then moved with his family to Clarion where he graduated from Clarion High School in 1948. Willis was united in marriage to Patricia Denger on November 5, 1950 at the Presbyterian Church in Dows. Soon after the wedding, Willis entered the U.S. Army. He served as a Gunner for the U.S. Army Artillery during the Korean Conflict. Willis was honorably discharged in 1953.

After his military service, Willis and Pat made their home north of Goodell where he farmed with his father, Bill. The couple had four children; Pam, Mark, Marsha, and Christa. Willis and Pat then lived and farmed near Armstrong and Bradford before settling on a farm east of Dows in 1964. They grew corn and soybeans, had a dairy herd, and raised hogs. In 1991, the couple retired from farming and moved into Dows. Willis was a very hard worker and he passed that work ethic onto his entire family. Willis was an avid fisherman. The couple enjoyed vacationing at their cabin on Lake Wabedo in northern Minnesota. Their family and friends have many fond memories of time spent at the lake with them.

Willis was a life-long farmer, and farming had influence in all facets of his life. He belonged to several local and state organizations. Willis served on the Board of Directors for North Central Farm Service for 24 years and the Federal Land Bank Board of Directors for nine years. He was a member of the Iowa Farm Bureau and was honored as an Iowa Master Pork Producer in 1983. Willis was very active in his community as a member of the Dows Presbyterian Church, Dows Lions Club, and the American Legion Watson Beach Post #523. He served as a city councilman and as the mayor of Dows. He earned the State of Iowa Life Saving Award from Governor Robert Ray in 1979, after saving a young boy from drowning.

Willis is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pat, of Dows; children Pamela (Mark) Odland of Dows, Mark Muhlenbruch of Dows, Marsha (Ed) Finch of Waverly, Christa (Jeff) Wiarda of Ackley. Ten grandchildren Wesley Odland, Morgan (Kyle) Wadsworth, Keslie Muhlenbruch, Fonda (Ryan) Manahl, Anthony (Tasha) Finch, Eddie Finch, April (Ryan) Pothast, Jessica (Jesse) Wegner, Jennifer (Rick) DeVore, Jeremy Arends, six great grandchildren, sister, Beverly Dishman of Hampton, and numerous other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Edna Muhlenbruch, brother-in-law Bob Dishman, nephew Randy Dishman, and niece Renee Berdahl. DUGGER FUNERAL HOMES, DOWS, IOWA

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