Obituary of Leland Ray "Fritz" Nebel

Leland R. “Fritz” Nebel, 86, of Dyersville died Sunday, August 10, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 at the Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil will be held at 4:00 p.m. and American Legion Post 137 will conduct a service at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 14 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Jeffrey Dole will officiate and American Legion Post 137 will accord military honors. Fritz was born Feb. 12, 1928 in Earlville the son of Fred and Gertrude (Brown) Nebel. He graduated from the Earlville High School and enlisted in the US Army from 1946 - 1952, serving during two war periods, WWII and Korea. On November 10, 1953, he married Mary Stevens at St. Paul Catholic Church in Worthington. Together they moved to Dyersville where they raised their family of 6 children. Fritz worked for Interstate Power Company for 39 years and retired as the area manager. Fritz was very active in the community. He was a member of the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, American Legion Post 137, the Dyersville Sportsman Club, Dyersville Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years where he served as Chief for 12 years, the Iowa Fireman’s Association, and was a current board member of the National Farm Toy Museum. His accomplishments include serving as the Curator of the National Farm Toy Museum, serving as President of Dyersville Industries, Inc., receiving the Dyersville Lion’s Club Citizen of the Year Award, induction into the Dubuque County Fireman’s Hall of Flame, and was a recipient of the Iowa Fireman’s Association Governor’s Award. In his spare time, he enjoyed having family and friends at the cabin at Lake Delhi, and his winter home in Arizona. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; 6 children: Jackie (Brad) Devine of Cedar Rapids, Jane (John) Hubler of Marion, Steve (Julie) Nebel of Dubuque, Dan (Kim) Nebel of El Segundo, CA, Dave (Connie) Nebel of Dyersville, and Tim (Joy) Nebel of Fort Dodge; 14 grandchildren: Andy (Holly) and Carla Devine, Jamie and Hilary Hubler, Nicole (Mike) Trotter, Matt (Laura) Nebel, Kim (Steven) Koos, Rachel Nebel, Grant and Pierce Nebel, Abbi and Grace Nebel, Megan and Ben Nebel; 13 great grandchildren; a sister, Betty Crane of Dubuque; 2 sisters-in-law: Marie Stevens of Oelwein and Grace Stevens of Dyersville. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard (Becky and Ann) Nebel, in-laws: Jack Crane, Lawrence, John, Louis, Bill (Norma) and Frederick Stevens; a nephew, Gary Crane. Memorials are preferred to the Dyersville Volunteer Fire Department or American Legion Post 137.