Skip to main content

Joan Gebel, 82

Lead Summary

Joan Gebel, age 82 of Alta Vista, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at Colonial Manor of Elma.
Friends greeted the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. 
A Memorial Service, with the Rev. Mark Murphy presiding, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, following the visitation at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton.
A private family inurnment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Little Turkey, at a later date. 
Joan Otilia Gebel was born Aug. 17, 1935, on a farm north of Little Turkey in Chickasaw County to Clarence and Tillie (Leuenberger) Novotny. 
Joan attended country school and graduated from Lawler High School. 
She was united in marriage to Richard Gebel at Assumption Catholic Church, Little Turkey on April 8, 1961. To this union two children, David and Pam, were born. 
Joan worked at Gardner Drug in New Hampton for many years. She then took a position at the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office in 1973. Spending 39 years working there until retiring in 2012. Joan was a member of the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association for 30 years, as well as serving on the Uniform Committee for 15 years. Joan dearly loved her job, and over her 39 years, she worked for four sheriffs.
Joan enjoyed dancing, traveling to Europe, taking long walks and good music. She loved good food and wine, and an occasional trip to the casino. 
She enjoyed watching her grandson Isaac play baseball. Joan cherished time spent with family and friends. 
Joan is survived by her husband, Dick Gebel of Alta Vista; son, David Gebel of Alta Vista; daughter, Pam Gribben of Mason City; granddaughter, Samantha Gribben of Waverly; grandson, Isaac Gribben of Clear Lake; brother, Jerry Novotny of La Porte City; sister-in-law, Mary Mc’Avoy of Alta Vista; two brothers-in-law, Denny (Terri) Gebel of Cedar Falls, and Steve Gebel of Alta Vista; former son-in-law, Jerry Gribben of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and  her grandparents. 

*/

Thank you for reading!

To read the full version of all available articles, you must be a subscriber to the New Hampton Tribune's website. To become a subscriber, please click here to be taken to our subscription page. If you already are a subscriber, please click here to login to the site and continue reading. Thank you.