Mervin Reifschneider

Published by admin on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 9:10am

Mervin Reifschneider, age 91, of Hubbard, IA, died on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the Hubbard Care Center. A flowing visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 29th at the Salem United Methodist Church, Hubbard. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 30th at the Salem United Methodist Church, Hubbard. Burial will take place in the Hubbard Cemetery. The family requests that those attending wear masks and respect social distancing guidelines at all functions. Boeke Funeral Home of Hubbard is in charge of arrangements. For more information and online condolences go to: www.boekefuneralhomes.com.

Mervin Lloyd Reifschneider was born April 13, 1929, in Eldora, the second son of Henry and Esther (Faust) Reifschneider. Merv attended a country school before graduating from Hubbard High School in 1947. He enjoyed sports and even played 3rd base on the baseball team that made it to the state tournament. Upon graduation he attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa and farmed. In 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force for four years. Merv proudly served his country and was crew chief of an F-80 Shooting Star Fighter Bomber in the Korean War. The pilot was also from Iowa, so they named the jet “Iowa’s Little Wild Rose”. He spent time training for the military in South Carolina and Del Rio, Texas. He was also able to play on his squadron’s baseball team.

On October 16, 1953, Merv married the love of his life, Evelyn Kruetzmann, at Zion UCC in Hubbard by Evelyn’s father, Rev. A.I. Kruetzmann. The newlyweds lived in Del Rio, Texas for a year where Merv was stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base.

In December of 1954, Merv was honorably discharged and moved back to his family farm in Hubbard. There they raised three children: Ranae, David, and Rhonda. Merv had a strong work ethic and successfully farmed until moving to his parents’ home in town in 2011.

Merv will be fondly remembered for his gentle spirit, his passion of farming, his love for sports, and the love for his family. Merv and Evie enjoyed traveling. They visited all 50 states and several countries. They also cherished spending time with their family and attending their grandchildren’s activities. Merv’s eyes would light up when he would see his grandchildren walk through the door. Merv was a lifelong member of Salem UMC of Hubbard where he faithfully served on various committees and positions. He was also a member of the Lions Club, on the cemetery, pork producers and elevator boards, and helped with the food pantry.

Left to cherish his memory, is his wife of 67 years, Evelyn Reifschneider; his children Ranae (Ned) Sellers of State Center, David (Staci) Reifschneider of Hubbard, and Rhonda (Tim) Teske of Eldora. Grandchildren: Laura (Brad) Allen of Ankeny, Jayden (Anne) Sellers of Marshalltown, Jamie Teske of Hubbard, Sarah (Ryan) Claypool of Eldora, Hannah Reifschneider of Lenexa, KS, Shannon Teske of Eldora, Lane Reifschneider of Hubbard, and Haley Teske of Eldora. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren Caleb, Cameron, and Caitlyn Allen of Ankeny, Madeline and Greyson Sellers of Marshalltown, and Libby Claypool of Eldora, and his many beloved nieces and nephews.

Merv was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Lowell Reifschneider.

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