Obituary of Gilbert Henry Nesler

Gilbert H. "Gib" Nesler, 98, of Marshalltown, Iowa, formerly of Dyersville died Friday, November 26, 2010 at the Marshalltown Medical Center, Marshalltown, Iowa. Friends may call from 2 until 8 p.m. Tuesday November 30 2010 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a Parrish Scripture service will be held at 5:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday December 1, 2010 at St Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Robert Gross. Surviving him are his daughter, Suzanne (Emmett) Lampkin of Marshalltown, Iowa, and sons Dennis (Andrea) Nesler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Fred (Janell) Nesler of Omaha, Nebraska, and ten grandchildren and nine great-grand children. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Bahning) Nesler, daughter, Diane Nesler, sisters, Dorothy Quade and Bernice Bamberger. Gilbert Nesler was born in Worthington, Iowa on November 20, 1912, the son of Henry Nesler and Veronica (Timmer) Nesler. After the death of his mother in 1915, the family moved to Dyersville at which time his mother's sister Mary Timmer came from Minneapolis to raise her sister's three small children. On June 6, 1940 he was married to Margaret Bahning in St. Francis Xavier Basilica and was a lifetime member of the parish. He received his education at St. Francis Boys School, conducted by the Marian Brothers, and graduated in 1929 and attended college for two years. He then went into the retail furniture business for the next forty years, first in partnership with his father Henry and in 1937 a partnership with Ray Goedken. They constructed a new building in 1951 which was struck by lightning and consumed in a major fire in 1953, after which a second new building was erected. He was past president of the Dyersville Commercial Club in 1959 and for several years chairman of the Merchants Committee. For many years he was on the Board of Directors of the Dyersville Historical Society and was involved in the purchase, restoration and furnishing of the Dyer-Botsford House, a Victorian home built by the founder of Dyersville. In 1955, for his efforts in the restoration, he received a volunteer award at the Governor's Volunteer Ceremony. He was an avid fisherman and fond of gardening. Memorials may be given to Stonehill Care Center of Dubuque, Iowa. Information available and condolences accepted at www.kramerfuneral.com.