Geneva Gambach

GENEVA GAMBACH

Mount Pleasant

Geneva Gambach, 100, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Fairfield, died Aug. 31, 2019, at her residence. A memorial funeral service was held Sept. 14 at First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant. The Rev. David Bracht-Wagner was the officiant. Burial was in the Laurens, Iowa, cemetery with the Rev. Ed Frank presiding. Kimzey Funeral Home, Mount Pleasant, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Mrs. Gambach, the former Geneva Alborn, was born in Laurens, Iowa, the daughter of Otto and Anna Alborn. Geneva was raised in rural Laurens, graduated from Laurens High School and was crowned Miss Laurens during her high school days. Upon graduation she enrolled at Buena Vista College, where she received her two-year teacher's certificate. She began her career in education as an elementary school teacher in Ware, Iowa, where she met her future husband. In August 1939, Geneva was united in marriage to Ralph Gambach.

After their marriage, Mrs. Gambach took a reprieve from teaching to raise her family. Geneva assumed the duties of being a superintendent's wife while Mr. Gambach served the schools in Meriden, Tipton and Fairfield. While living in Fairfield, Geneva earned her bachelor's degree in education from Parsons College. She then resumed her teaching career at the elementary school of the Van Buren Community School District in Birmingham and retired in the late 1970s.

Mrs. Gambach was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, the P.E.O. Sisterhood and participated in numerous other community organizations. Geneva and Ralph traveled extensively throughout the United States and many other countries, attended Hawkeye football games into their 80s and enjoyed playing bridge with their many dear friends.

Above all else, Geneva made the kind, loving and nurturing care of her children and grandchildren a most important part of her family's life. Geneva was blessed with an exemplary century of life.

Those thankful for sharing in Geneva's life include two children, Ronald Gambach and his wife, Corinne, of Cedar Rapids and Jill Holmes of Iowa City; nine grandchildren, Jason Gambach, Jeffrey (Elizabeth) Gambach, Bradly Gambach, Katherine (Bryan) Mullarkey, Heidi Holmes, Brandon (Jane) Holmes, Seth (Theresa) Holmes, Danika Holmes (husband Jeb Hart), and Timothy (Ashley) Holmes; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, Alan and Bruce Gambach; a son-in-law, Daniel Holmes; a sister, Kathryn Runneburg; two brothers, Albert and Darlow Alborn; four sisters-in-law; and four brothers-in-law.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Ralph & Geneva Gambach Scholarship Fund of Buena Vista University (please make checks payable to Buena Vista University (with the Ralph & Geneva Gambach Scholarship in the memo line) or to the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pleasant. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.