Herman Louis Ubben

TITONKA - Funeral services for Herman Louis Ubben, 70, of Titonka will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ramsey Reformed Church in rural Titonka, with Pastor Dennis Redeker officiating. Interment will be in Ramsey Reformed Church Cemetery in rural Titonka.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Titonka.

Herman Louis Ubben was born on Jan. 27, 1935, the youngest child of Peter and Johanna (Rippentrop) Ubben. He was baptized at Ramsey Reformed Church in rural Titonka. He made his public confession of faith at Ramsey Reformed Church as a young man.

He was educated in the country schools in rural Titonka and attended Titonka High School, graduating in 1952. He began farming with his father and brothers.

On April 18, 1958, he was joined in marriage to Wilda Schutter at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Titonka. They continued to farm on Herman's family farm. Herman and Wilda were blessed with six children.

In 1992, Herman began working at Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa. He also sold Golden Harvest seed corn. Herman's life revolved around his church. He served as a deacon and elder at Ramsey Reformed Church and taught Sunday school and catechism for many years. He served as German Township clerk for 25 years.

In his younger years, Herman played softball in the church leagues. He loved the competition of all games, but particulary loved family softball games.

His children will always remember his ability to balance the hard work farming required with time for playing with his children. Herman took great pride in his lively wife and the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

Above all, Herman loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He engaged all around him in great discussions of the Bible passages he loved. He constantly sought to learn more about the Lord.

On July 26, 2005, he went to be with his beloved Lord and Savior. He leaves to mourn: his wife, Wilda Ubben; daughter, Ann Walker and husband, Dave, of Algona; daughter, Janice Hoover and husband, Ted, of rural Burt; daughter, Susan Portner and husband, Tom, of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; son, Sherman Ubben and wife, Lesia, of Traer; daughter Betty Czowiecki and husband, Don, of Melrose Park, Ill.; and son, Robert Ubben of Titonka; nine grandchildren: Katie, Jacob and Jill Walker, Ryan and Brad Hoover, Dale and Jordan Portner and Andrea and Jessica Ubben. He is also survived by his brother, John Ubben and wife, Irene of Buffalo Center; two sisters: Grace Smidt and husband, Warner, of Titonka, and Dorothy Giesking and husband, Butch, of rural Titonka. He is also survived by one brother-in-law, Willis Murra of Buffalo Center, Iowa, and one sister-in-law, Bonnie Underbakke of Keister, Minn., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandchild, Chad Robert Hoover; brother, Ubbe Ubben and his wife, Therese Ubben; his brother, Evert Ubben, and one sister, Marie Murra.

Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, (515) 928-2735.