Thomas "Tom" Gebel
October 26, 1934 ~ February 10, 2022
Thomas Nicholas Gebel, age 87, of New Hampton, IA passed away peacefully at his home the morning of Thursday, Feb. 10 under the care of his loving wife, Marian (Wacha) Gebel, his daughter Terri Allen, and St. Croix Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton, with a continued visitation one hour prior to the funeral mass. The mass will be celebrated by Father Brian Dellaert. For those unable to attend the funeral, you are able to join the family via Facebook Live through Conway-Markham Funeral Home's Facebook page. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.
A visitation will be held from 4–7:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton with a 3:30 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service. In honor of Tom and in keeping with the family’s wishes, memorials may be directed to St. Croix Hospice or to the Knights of Columbus Council 1697. To share online condolences, please visit Tom Gebel’s obituary at www.conway-markhamfh.com.
Born on Oct. 26, 1934 in New Hampton, Thomas “Tom” Nicholas Gebel was the son of Louis and Marie (Kolbet) Gebel. One of five children, Tom was raised on a farm near Alta Vista with his three brothers, Jim, Don and Dan, and his sister, Barb. He graduated in 1952 from St. William’s High School in Alta Vista. After attending Loras College for a period of time, Tom worked at Borden’s Ice Cream in Cedar Rapids for two years before returning home to help on the farm after the death of his father.
On June 29, 1957, Tom Nicholas Gebel was united in marriage to Marian Johanna Wacha at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes, IA. The “Home of the Seven Gebels,” Tom and Marian raised their five children, Deb, Tim, Terri, Mike and Andy, in New Hampton. During this time, Tom worked for Elma Locker, Liddles supermarket, Jack and Jill supermarket, and Sara Lee. While working for Sara Lee, he also served in a part-time position reading meters for the City of New Hampton and, upon his eventual retirement from Sara Lee, he began part-time delivery for the local flower shop Pocketful of Posies. These part-time positions were perfect for Tom, as he could always socialize with any stranger and enjoyed the opportunity to brighten people’s days with flowers.
Tom was a Knights of Columbus member since 1955 and an active member of St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s parishes, where he attended mass regularly. He was a frequent golfer—once achieving a hole-in-one—and card player, with his favorite card game being euchre. Other interests of his included fishing, gardening, hunting, traveling with Marian and friends on bus trips, and puttering around in the yard—where he’d survey his raspberry bushes and his bird feeders. Tom kept the neighborhood bird varieties well fed and had an impressive ability to recognize each species.
Thanks to his two favorite hobbies, jam making and jigsaw puzzling, visitors frequently left Tom’s company with a fresh jar of raspberry jam or a beautifully framed jigsaw puzzle he had just completed. He also found joy in watching sports with Marian, talking about his baseball card collection, trying his luck at a casino, visiting Dubuque, IA, and just spending time with his numerous loving family members and friends.
Living family members include his wife of 64 years, Marian (Wacha) Gebel of New Hampton; five children, Deb (Steve) Winter of Bettendorf; Tim (Denise) Gebel of Sherrard; Terri (J.J.) Allen of Ames; Mike (Rhonda) Gebel of Eldridge; and Andrew (Kelley) Gebel of Davis Junction; 13 grandchildren, Matthew, Danielle and Jessica Winter; Kara (Gebel) Padilla, Tyler Gebel, Anne and Rachel Winston; Jason, Nathan and Christopher Allen; and Jonathan, Lillie and Kelvin Gebel; two great-granddaughters, Vera Winter and Palmer Allen; a sister, Barb (Jerry) O’Donnell of Cresco; a brother, Dan (Dorothy) Gebel of Clear Lake; three sisters-in-law, Marcy Gebel of Mason City; Marge Haugen of Clear Lake; and Elaine (Mike) Farrington of Elma; and numerous nieces, nephews and loving family members of the Gebel and Wacha Families.
A wonderful man who lived his life as a faithful Christian every day. RIP Tom.
Always a joy to work with at Sara Lee. Sympathy to his family.
Always had a great talk with Tom on golf nites and a few laughs are prayers are with you all
Deepest condolences to the entire Gebel family. Tom was always up for a good chat each time I was able to see him. A truly nice man.
Deepest sympathy
He was great guy! Always remember him as the friendly meter reader guy!😊
He was such a nice person
Our sympathies to his family
I’m so sorry for your loss!
Marian, you have our deepest sympathy. Praying for you and your family.
My prayers and sympathies to Tom’s families. I always enjoyed visiting with Tom at Sara Lee and if we met while he was reading the meter. Rest In Peace Tom🙏 You’ll be missed.
My Sympathy to the Family!!
My sympathy to the family!!!
My sympathy to you Marian and your family! 🙏.
My sympathy to you, Marian, and all of the family. You are in my prayers.
Our deepest condolences to the family of Tom Gebel. Lance and Jan Manson
Our deepest condolences to Toms family
Our sincere sympathies.
Our Sincere Sympathy !!
Our sympathy & prayers to you, Marian & your family!
Our sympathy and prayers to Toms family!
Our sympathy to the family.
Our sympathy to you and your family.
Our sympathy!
Our sympathy???
Our thoughts and prayers for Marian and family!!
Prayers and sympathy to the whole family!
Sending hugs and prayers
Sending our smypathy and prayer to you Marion and families. Tom and Cora.
So sorry for you loss.🙏🙏
So sorry for your loss Marion. My sympathy to you and your family. Muriel Schroeder Rahlf
So sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayer for you all.
So sorry for your loss. Sympathy to the family!
So sorry for your loss. God bless.
So sorry to hear!! Prayer to his family 🙏🏻
So very sorry for your loss .
So very sorry for your loss.
So very sorry for your loss. He was great to work with back in the 70’s at Liddle’s.
So very sorry Marian!!! Sympathies to you and your family!!
So very, very sorry to see this. My most heartfelt sympathy to all his family. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sorry for your loss Marian and family!
Sorry for your loss. Prayers for all …..
Sympathies to the family and friends
Sympathy and prayers for all the family!
Sympathy and prayers to you and your family, Marian.🙏
Sympathy Marian to you and your family. I wish we weren’t so far away but we keep you in our prayers🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sympathy to all the families of Tom
Sympathy to family and friends 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sympathy to the family. RIP Tom.
Thinking of you all.
Tom was a great guy. I am so sorry for your loss.
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Conway-Markham Funeral Home – New Hampton
We are so sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers.
With sympathy to all the family.
You have our sympathy! Fly high among the Angel’s Tom!
Your in my thoughts!
Dorsey sympathy to Toms family. I enjoyed working with him years ago at Liddle s super value.
Marian, our sympathy to you and your family.
MY PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY TO ALL OF TOM’S FAMILY AT THIS TIME OF SORROW.
Our deepest sympathy Marian Prayers for you and family. Tom was a Great guy!!!
Our prayers and sympathy to you Marian and all of your family. Leon and Nancy Wegner
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
RIP Tom. Sympathy and prayers to Marian and family. Tom and Marian were one of the first to move to our neighborhood. Dave and Kay Rasmussen
So sorry for your loss. Prayers and God Bless You and your family.
Sorry to hear of the passing of Tom know that we are thinking of all of you. Dan and Kay Hartson
Sympathy and prayers Marian to you and your family.
Sympathy and prayers to the family
Sympathy to the family
Tom was a one of a kind man. One of my all time favorite neighbors and friend. God bless him.
Tom was one of the good guys with whom I always enjoyed conversation. We did not see each other frequently due to the geographical distances between us. Some of our first meetings date to the late 1940s. Later meetings were all during my visits to Chickasaw County, and he was generally one of the first that I contacted to arrange a get-together. Goodbye Tom; you are already missed! Tom Weitzel
We are so very saddened with the loss of a dear friend. We were lucky to live so very close to the Gebels. It was not uncommon to walk across the back yard, enjoy a beverage and play cards. Just one of our many memories. Our deepest sympathies to the entire family. Dayton & Annette & family.
You are in our prayers.
My sympathy
Prayers and thoughts of sympathy to the Gebel Family …..always enjoyed visiting with Tom …. Rest In Peace Tom , Kevin & Linda Roths
Prayers for the family
Tom was a good friend going back to hi-school days, where our schools competed with each other in basketball and baseball. He at Alta vista, and I at Elma I. C. His brother, Jim, was my Best Man at our Wedding. I always enjoyed the company of all the Gebel brothers, and their cousin Dick. As I am in Arizona for another few week, I will not be able to attend the service, but Tom and his Family will be in my prayers. Bob Fogarty, West Des Moines
Tom, the girls will miss you coming over talking to them while we were in the back yard in the garden. And you spoiling them with lillies.
Worked with Tom at Sara Lee. Nice guy. Bumped into him Once in awhile years later and he always took time to chat. all my sympathy.
My deepest sympathies to Marian and family everyone…Tom was one of my favorite neighbors and always was so helpful…
My sympathy and prayers to you and your family Marian.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
To all of Tom’s family-My sincere sympathy. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Dave and I are so sorry for your loss. We extend our sympathy to all the family. We will miss not running into Tom and being able to visit with him.
Our condolences and prayers to Marian and Family. Enjoyed knowing Tom over the years; dealing with Tom on the families appliances was always a pleasure for me.
Our deepest sympathy to Marian and the entire family. God bless you all. Joann and Tim Throndson
Our sympathy to Marian and all of Tom’s family. He was always such a nice, pleasant person to visit with. So sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts and prayers with you and your family during this difficult time.
Our sympathy to Marian & family. He will always be in your hearts ♥️
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sending our deepest sympathy with love prayers and peace. God Bless You All during your time of sorrow. The Phyllis Barshinger Family
We are thinking of you during this difficult time. Jon, Sandy, Josh, Katie and kids
Deb and family, You are all in our thoughts and prayers! Sending you all our love and lots of hugs! Love, Your Growing with Grace family
God’s peace and comfort in your time of sorrow. Thinking of your family.
Marian, Deb, Tim, Terri, Mike, Andy, and The Entire Gebel Family, We are very sad to learn of the passing of Tom. Please accept our deepest and sincere condolences. You all will be in our daily thoughts and prayers. Tommy ‘G’ was a great person. We were lucky enough to have some fun times with him over the years. Even on a few occasions we were able to beat him at a game of Euchre…of course always under protest! Fantastic memories on the Golf Course at the Annual Oneil / Oney Open. The banter between all of us was comical. I’m smiling as I type. And who could forget how he referred to me (Bobby)…we will leave it at that!! You will be missed Tommy ‘G’! Please let us know if we can help out with anything at all. We are hear for All of you. God Bless. Love, The Pilon’s (Bobby, Shelly Rae, Allison Rae, Ayden Lawrence, Cameron Andrew, Lola, & Dixie) XXOOXOXOXOX’s!!!! LeCalire, IA
Rhonda & Mike, Thinking of you during this difficult time. God bless.