Mardelle Angeline Gilbert

Mardelle Angeline Gilbert, the daughter of Herman and Helene (Hansen) Hansen, was born May 29, 1929, at her parents’ home in Sharon Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died January 16, 2017 at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 7 months, and 17 day.
Mardelle was baptized December 29, 1929, and confirmed April 2, 1944, at the Bethany Lutheran Church northeast of Kimballton, Iowa. She attended rural schools then graduated from the Audubon, High School with the Class of 1946. Mardelle then taught rural schools in Douglas Township and Sharon Township for 6 years.
On April 22, 1950, she was united in marriage to Darrell “Pee Wee” Leon Gilbert at the Bethany Lutheran Church northeast of Kimballton. They were blessed with one son Dan. Mardelle taught school for a short time then was employed as the Office Manager at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital for over 29 years. During retirement Mardelle and “Pee Wee” enjoyed traveling across the United States to attend reunions with his shipmates. Darrell died on August 31, 2012. Mardelle enjoyed her home then moved to the Friendship Home in 2014.
Mardelle was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She served on the church council and was the past Treasurer. She was Chairperson of the WELCA and a Cluster officer. Mardelle was Treasurer of the Friendship Home Board and a Chairperson and Treasurer of the Audubon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a Past chairperson of the VFW Auxiliary and a 7th District officer. She served 2 terms as thc chairperson for the Red Cross bloodmobile, and was Chairperson and Secretary of the Audubon County Hospital Foundation. She was chairperson of AAL Branch 5448 and was the Daffodil chairperson for the American Cancer Society Mardelle enjoyed bowling and attended many state tournaments and served as secretary for the Audubon Bowling Associations. She was an avid golfer and was a chairperson of the Audubon Country Club. Mardelle enjoyed playing bridge and taught many friends how to play. Tuesday mornings were always reserved for a special group of friends at Bible study.
Preceding her in death was her husband Darrell “Pee Wee” Gilbert; her parents; her brothers and sisters Erna and husband Kenneth Krone, Freda and husband Glen Beebe, Alvin and wife Lilly Hansen, Edgar and wife Gerry Hansen, her twin brother Marvin Hansen; her sister-in-law and brothers-in-law Etta Mae Hansen, Ed Gilbert, and Max Lantz.
Survivors include her son Dan and wife Ila Gilbert of Ankeny, Iowa; her granddaughters Kari Gilbert of Ankeny, Iowa, Nichole and husband Ronan O’Connor of Chicago, Illinois, Michelle Gilbert of Tiffin, Iowa, and Sarah Gilbert and husband Rick Miller of Seattle, Washington; her grandchildren Jacob Gilbert of Ankeny, Iowa and Emily O’Connor of Chicago, Illinois; her brothers Dr. Herman Hansen of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Louis Hansen of Washington, Illinois; her sisters-in-law Jeanette Lantz of Colville, Washington and Mary Young of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Friday morning, January 20, 2017, from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp Friday morning at 11:00 A.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Kari Gilbert, Nichole O’Connor, Michelle Gilbert, Sarah Gilbert, Jacob Gilbert, and Robert Ericksen.