GARBEE, Eugene (1907-1996)

GARBEE

Posted By: Von Stachon (email)
Date: 3/6/2007 at 16:32:40

OBITUARY

EUGENE GARBEE

Former Upper Iowa University President Eugene Garbee, known to many older Traerites, died Nov. 8, 1996 at Winslow, AZ. Funeral services for Garbee were held Thursday, Nov. 14 at Billings, MO, Gargee's home town.

Garbee, who was 89 when he died, was president of Upper Iowa from 1952 to 1970. During that time, more than $6 million was raised for buildings at the small liberal arts campus, according to an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette following his death.

When Garbee retired, every major building on campus was either new or completely renovated, re-equipped and refurbished, according to news reports at the time.

Garbee, who taught health and physical education at Drake University from 1949 to 1952, was a craftsman whose hobbies included clockmaking and weaving, particularly cloth for winter suits and top coats for himself and his wife, Mildred, according to the report.

He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Once a year he would prepare a wild game dinner, using recipes he learned while growing up in the Missouri Ozarks. His menus included English Sparrow pot pie, Iowa jugged muskrat and baked Fayette County corn-fed coon.

Garbee earned a bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1931. While a student there, he married Mildred Everts of Traer, a faculty member. They didn't announce their marriage for 2-1/2 years because she would have been fired and he would have been kicked out of school.

He earned his master's degree at George Peabody College in Nashville and a doctorate from New York University.

After college he taught and coached at the high school and college level. Garbee served in World War II.

Following his retirement from Upper Iowa, Garbee moved to Springfield, MO. His wife died in 1988, and 2-1/2 years ago, he moved to Winslow, AZ to live with his daughter (Mary) Jean Smith. He also is survived by a son, Everett Garbee of Broken Arrow, OK.

Memorial contributions may be made to Upper Iowa University Scholarship Fund, Upper Iowa University, Fayette, 52142.