Burnell E. Geving

Burnell E. Geving, 89, of Mason City, died Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held 10:30 AM Friday, December 14, 2012 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 329 East State Street with Rev. Sid Bohls officiating. Inurnment will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery, Britt, Iowa at 2:00 PM. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or the North Iowa Humane Society. Burnell was born August 18, 1923 in Northwood, Iowa the son of Benhard and Elvina (Peterson) Geving. Burnell’s father died when he was 4 years old. He was raised by his mother and loving stepfather, Alvin Hanson. Burnell graduated from Mason City High School in 1941. He was united in marriage to Iola Yvonne Hildebrand February 14, 1943 in Britt, Iowa. Burnell served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946 when he was honorably discharged. Burnell was employed as a hog buyer by Jacob E. Decker and Sons in Mason City until 1977. He and his wife farmed full time north of Mason City until their retirement in 1985. In April of 2011, Burnell went on the Honor Flight to Washington DC. It was the first time he had ever flown. He worked with and served on the board of the North Iowa Fair. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. A few of his interests included gardening and flowers. Burnell loved people and so enjoyed getting together and visiting with family, friends, former Decker retirees, and his high school classmates. Burnell is survived by his wife, Yvonne of Mason City; daughters, JoAnn of Carlsbad, California and Julie of Swampscott, Massachusetts; brother, Ron (Sharon) Hanson of Coralville; sister, Beverly (Ramon) Long of Underwood, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Donna Geving of Algona; brother-in-law, Charles Smith of Britt; sister-in-law, Carol Hildebrand of Peoria, Arizona; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Sandy Jennings of Mason City; many nieces and nephews. Burnell was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Leroy and two sisters in infancy.

Cemetery:
Evergreen Cemetery, Britt, Iowa

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or North Iowa Humane Society.