Marvin Gesell

Marvin W. Gesell, 73, of Norfolk, Neb., died at his home Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003.

He was born March 10, 1930, in Miltona, Minn., son of John and Amalia Hartfiel Gesell. He and Lucille Dreyer were married July 26, 1953, in Norfolk.

He worked in sales, farmed, worked at Montgomery Ward and Star Clothing. He then worked at Norfolk Post Office and later was postmaster at Genoa, Neb., and in Piedmont and Chaffee, Mo. Following his retirement from the post office, Gesell worked at Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau until returning to Norfolk in October 2002. He was currently working at Wal-Mart in Norfolk.

Gesell was a member of Genoa Legion Club and a past president of Lions clubs in Genoa, Piedmont and Chaffee.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from June 1947 to June 1950, and took part in the Berlin Air Lift after World War II.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Pamela Dede of Norfolk; four sons, Thomas Gesell of South Sioux City, Neb., Scott Gesell of Evergreen, Colo., Gregory Gesell of Fremont, Neb., Phillip Gesell of Norfolk; two brothers, Sylvester Gesell of Miltona, Lawrence Gesell of Parkers Prairie, Minn.; six sisters, Clara Venske of Wadena, Minn., Ella Bettermann of Two Harbors, Minn., Gertrude Grothmann of Grandin, N.D., Violet Backhaus and Viola Freudenburg of Alexandria, Minn., Vergene Henning of Miltona; and 12 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, and a sister.

The funeral was held Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk, with the Revs. Frank Winter and Steven Heinsen officiating. Burial was in New Lutheran Cemetery in Norfolk, with military rites by VFW Post 1644 and American Legion Post 16 of Norfolk.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk was in charge of arrangements.