Daniel L. Gebel

Daniel Louis Peter Gebel, 84, of Clear Lake, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, Mason City, surrounded by his family. 

  Dan was born on Oct. 1, 1939, in Elma, Iowa, the son of Louis and Marie (Kolbet) Gebel. Dan was one of five children, raised in Alta Vista, Iowa.  He graduated in 1957 from St. William’s High School. After high school he attended the Tech School of Automation in Des Moines. He was united in marriage on Nov. 25, 1961, to Dorothy Kappmeyer, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Oelwein. Dan and Dorothy raised “the three Gebel girls” in Oelwein, Iowa, Austin, Minn. and Ottumwa, Minn. 

  During this time, he worked at Chicago Great Western in Oelwein, for nine and one-half years. He then started working for Hormel Foods, where his career expanded 33 years, retiring in 2001. 

  Dan became an Eagle Scout at the age of 15 and became a member of the Knights of Columbus at age 18. He was very proud to be a 4th Degree and also served as Grand Knight. 

  Special memories include many family vacations at Norway Lake, Minn., going to Hawaii, skiing in Colorado, and spending many winters in Florida at the Villages. Dan loved going golfing, achieving a hole-in-one. He also enjoyed fishing, boating, playing Euchre, putting puzzles together and dancing with his bride of 62 years. As a proud Papa he enjoyed shopping for the grandchildren at the Spam Store. 

  Dan is survived by his wife, Dorothy Gebel, of Clear Lake; their three daughters, Danette (Dave) Johnson, of Waunakee, Wis.; Denise (Scott) Etzel, of Clear Lake; and Diane (Randy Evans) Jones, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; six grandchildren, Luke (Sara) Johnson, Abby (Dan) Myhra, Rachel Cummings, Michael Cummings, Tyler (Katie Ann) Jones, Justin (Katie Grace) Jones; three great -grandchildren, Francis Jones, Gabriel Jones, and Ezekiel Jones and one on the way; sister, Barb (Jerry) O’Donnell, of Cresco; sisters-in-law, Marcy Gebel, of Mason City, and Marian Gebel, of New Hampton. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Marie Gebel; his infant daughter, Dana Mary; three brothers, Jim, Tom and Don Gebel; sister-in-Law, Colleen Gebel; niece, Suzanne Gebel. 

  Visitation was held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake. Knights of Columbus Funeral Honors and Rosary were held at 4 p.m. and a Scriptural Wake Service at 7 p.m., both at the church. The Funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, at the church. There was also one hour of visitation prior to Mass. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Alta Vista. Memorials may be directed to the Knights of Columbus Clear Lake Council 7898, where all proceeds will be given to the Baby Bottle Campaign.  Memorials may be sent to St. Patrick Catholic Church at 1001 9th Ave. S., Clear Lake, Iowa, 50428.  Online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com. 

  Kaiser-Corson Funeral Homes, of Waverly, assisted the family.