Frances 'Iola' Gehlbach
[January
08, 2013]
LINCOLN --
Frances "Iola" Gehlbach, 96, of Lincoln, died Saturday, Jan. 5,
2013, at 10:14 a.m. at her home.
(Below is a copy of
the obituary from the funeral home.)
___
Iola Gehlbach, 96, died at
10:14 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2013, at her
home.
Frances Iola Gehlbach was born on May 12, 1916, a
daughter of Clemens "Clem" and Anna Fink Garton. As
a child, she rode her horse around the neighborhood,
collecting news for her father to put in his
newspaper column, "East O' Town." After graduating
from Lincoln Community High School and Lincoln
College, she taught three years at Hatton School,
which she had attended as a child. She was united in
marriage to Albert E. Gehlbach on July 30, 1938. He
preceded her in death in 2003.
She is survived by two sons: Gerald (Nancy) Gehlbach
of Lincoln, Illinois, and Donald (Ann) Gehlbach of
Sarasota, Florida; four grandchildren: Dr. Scott
Gehlbach (Dr. Maria Belodubrovskaya) of Madison,
Wisconsin, Dr. Brian Gehlbach (Dr. Krista Johnson)
of Coralville, Iowa, Chad Gehlbach (Michele Dupre)
of Chicago, Illinois, and Jody Agnacian (George) of
Bentonville, Arkansas; five great-grandchildren:
Emma, Jacob, and Adrian Gehlbach and Lily and
Charlie Agnacian; and a sister: Lois (Julian)
Schmidt of Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. She was preceded
in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers,
and three sisters. |
She was a member of St. John United Church of
Christ, where she belonged to the Christian Seekers, Charity
Guild, and Pairs 'N Spares. She was a charter member of the
Logan County Home Bureau (later Home Extension), and served
as president of Chester Unit.
Mrs. Gehlbach was a homemaker and avid supporter of
her husband's farming career. She was known as a wonderful
hostess, whether entertaining her coffee group or greeting
her husband's colleagues during his service as president of
the National Pork Producers Council. A lifelong learner with
a curious mind, she loved to travel and had a wonderful
memory for Logan County events and families. She enjoyed
working in her garden, cooking, doing crafts, jigsaw puzzles
and jumbles, and watching Illini basketball on TV.
Most of all, however, she was a beloved mother,
mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who
cherished her family.
Services for Mrs. Gehlbach will be held at 10:30 a.m. on
Saturday, January 12, 2013, at St. John United Church of
Christ in Lincoln, Illinois, the Rev. Richard Reinwald
officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m. on
Friday, January 11, at the church and one hour before the
service on Saturday. Burial will be at Union Cemetery,
Lincoln, Illinois. Memorials may be made to St. John United
Church of Christ, 204 Seventh St., Lincoln, Illinois.
Arrangements are being made by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader
Funeral Home in Lincoln.
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