Melodie Rubel

Melodie A. Rubel, 49, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2007, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Melodie Ann Rubel was born February 18, 1958, in Greenfield, Iowa, the daughter of Ray D. and Marilyn A. (Bireline) Chesnut.

She was raised on a farm northwest of Adair, Iowa. On March 9, 1958, she was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church north of Adair where she was also confirmed on May 7, 1972. She attended schools in Adair and graduated from the Adair-Casey High School in 1976. Melodie continued her education at the Des Moines Area Community College, graduating in May of 1978. While in Des Moines, she worked for Brenton Banks.

On March 7, 1980, Melodie married Monte A. Rubel at St. John's Lutheran Church, northwest of Adair, Iowa. That same year, the couple moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where she worked for Wayne Feeds for 25 years and Cass Incorporated.

Melodie was an active member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, where she served on the Outreach Board, directed the hand bell choir, taught Sunday School and was the former Sunday School Superintendent.

She was on the Family Crisis Board of Directors, and also a board member of Thrivent for Lutherans, Treasurer of the Crop Walk, and was a member of 4-H as well as a 4-H leader.

Melodie was well-known as a seamstress and loved to sew and do quilting. She also enjoyed scrap booking.


Surviving Melodie is her husband, Monte Allen Rubel of Atlantic, IA; her daughter, Ashley Sponsler and her husband, Ben, and their children, Bradly and Jasper all of Altoona, IA; her parents, Ray & Marilyn Chesnut of Anita, IA; her brother, Ray Dean Chesnut Jr. and his wife, Shirley of Casey, IA; her sister, Deanna Lynne Chesnut of Adair, IA; her brother, Danny Eugene Chesnut and his wife, Rhonda of Olathe, KS; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Rubel of Audubon, IA; sister-in-law, Debbie Williams and her husband, Greg of Atlantic, IA; brother-in-law, Steve Rubel of Audubon, IA; and 4 nieces and 1 nephew.

Preceding Melodie in death were her son, Aaron Kyle Rubel, her grandparents, Art & Emma Bireline and her father-in-law, Leo Gene Rubel.

Public viewing is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, with the family present to greet friends Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 24, 2007, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic with the Reverend Ken Davidson officiating. Immediately following the service, a luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall.

Committal services and interment will be held at 3:30 p.m., Friday afternoon at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, northwest of Adair, Iowa.

The Rubel family has requested that memorials go to either the Cass Incorporated Endowment Fund, the Cass County 4-H Endowment Fund, the Family Support Network or to the Cass County Beef Producers, in memory of Melodie.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.