Colene Greubel Babcock

Funeral services for Colene Greubel Babcock, 84, will be Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Interment will follow at the Newbern Cemetery.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 10th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials to the Melcher-Dallas Fire Department.
Colene Greubel Babcock passed away Sunday morning, September 7, surrounded by her family in her home which was her favorite place to be.
Colene Ann Miller was born to Paul and Veda (Bingham) Miller on November 9,1940, at the family home in Lucas County. She grew up on a farm along with her siblings: Harry, Melvin, Roberta, Paul (Joe), and John.
Colene attended Strahn country school for the first few years, walking through the timber to get there each day. Later, the family moved to Lacona where she graduated from Lacona High School in 1959. While in school, Colene was a cheerleader, homecoming attendant, and loved all things music including band and choir.
From an early age, Paul and Veda instilled in their children the importance of working hard and above all knowing and trusting the Lord. They attended Newbern country church. It was there at a revival meeting when Colene was 12 years old, she put her faith in Jesus and was saved. She taught Sunday School and was always involved with music at church. Colene loved to sing. From a very young age she and her sister Roberta would sing at church on a weekly basis. She started playing the piano in Jr. High and continued until just a few years ago. For many years, she directed the choir at First Baptist Church in Chariton. Later in life when she took over the responsibility of the Newbern Church property, she hosted many yearly reunion services with potlucks following at her home.
As a teen, Colene and siblings would hang out at the Newbern Store meeting friends and watching TV on Saturday nights. During this time, a young man name Robert Greubel caught her eye, and their love story began. Bob played on the Newbern fast-pitch softball team along with Colene's brothers and uncle Clinton. Many great memories were made during those days.
Colene and Bob were married on December 5, 1959. They were blessed with six children – Craig, Lynn, Lori, Kristi, Jeff, and Mindy. When the kids were young, Colene had a huge garden and spent hours canning and freezing food for her family. If anyone helped at the Greubel farm, Dad insisted they eat lunch with the family. Over the years many were invited and squeezed around the family table to enjoy Colene's wonderful cooking.
Colene worked at Fehrer's Store in Lacona and Bankers Life in Des Moines in the early days. Later she drove a school bus at Melcher-Dallas for 32 years. Without a doubt, Colene had the best-behaved bus. Even though she was strict, hundreds of kids fondly remember Colene being their bus driver. She also worked at the elementary school for a time, serving in the kitchen and library. Many kids were sent to the library, so she could pull a loose tooth. She probably went by many names at school but since some of her own grandkids were attending there, most kids just called her grandma.
Together Colene and Bob worked extremely hard and raised their children on the family farm which had been in the Greubel family since 1903. She was a 4-H leader and always helped the kids get their project to the Lucas Co. Fair each year. Once the kids were out of 4-H, Colene became a judge in the open class building judging baked goods. This led to Colene working at the Iowa State Fair in the Elwell Family Food Center helping alongside the judges. Colene and Bob camped for over 40 years at the state fair making wonderful memories. In 2004, they were awarded the Century Farm Award at the Iowa State Fair.
When they retired from farming, they built a home in Newbern just a mile from the family farm. Colene and Bob were blessed with 52 years together. The last two years of Bob's life, she served the role of caretaker and did it exceptionally well. While she was taking care of Bob, little did she know a childhood acquaintance was doing the same for his wife battling cancer. One year to the day after Bob's passing, Richard Babcock came to visit Colene. They had known each other as teens and their families lived across the street from each other. They shared mutual stories and a friendship grew. Colene never dreamed she would find love again, but she did exactly that. On June 29, 2013, Colene and Dick were married at the little country church in Newbern with Colene's brother Harry officiating. She and Dick were able to share over 12 years together traveling, spending time with family, and just enjoying life in their retirement years.
Colene is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Veda, husband Bob, granddaughter Jessica, grandson D.J., son in law Bub Hoskins, and stepson Rick Babcock. Brother Harry Miller, brother in laws Garold Farrington, Darrell (Linda) Greubel, sister in laws Kathy Miller, Ruth (Jim) Ryun.
Colene is survived by husband Richard, children Craig (Susan) Greubel, Lynn Hoskins, Lori (Kevin) Luedtke, Kristi (Dean) Chandler, Jeff (Gina) Greubel, Mindy (Ryan) Bennett, 16 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren.
She was also blessed with step children Tim (Colleen) Babcock, Dennis (Jill) Babcock, and April Babcock, 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; siblings Melvin (Trish) Miller, Roberta (Russ) Fox, Paul (Ellie) Miller, John (Ginger) Miller, sister in law Darlene (Emory) Riseley, brother in laws Ray (Judy) Greubel, Don (Rose) Babcock along with numerous other relatives and friends.