Behrens, Gilbert Wallace

Gilbert Wallace Behrens, 74, of Tipton, died peacefully with his family by his side Tuesday evening, Oct. 4, 2011, in the hospice unit of Mercy Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at First United Methodist Church, Tipton, with the Rev. Paul Frederiksen officiating. Burial will follow in Tipton Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be his great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton.

Gilbert was born Dec. 6, 1936, in Lowden, Iowa, to Walter W. and Viola M. (Sieck) Behrens. He graduated from Springdale High School in 1954. On Aug. 5, 1955, Gilbert was united in marriage to Phyllis Marie Garvin in Muscatine. Gilbert farmed most of his life.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tipton and a past member of the Cedar County Pork Producers.

Gilbert is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Tipton; daughters, Barb (David) Snodgrass of Mount Pleasant and Sandy Ohrt of Tipton; son, Wayne (Nanette) Behrens of Atalissa; grandchildren, Brad (Tiffany) Behrens, Brent Behrens, Jennifer Boedeker, Kelli Snodgrass, Heidi Snodgrass, Nick Ohrt and Nathan Ohrt; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Justin and Brooke Boedeker, Carson Ryan and Jack Behrens; and his sister, Lavonne (Massey) Cook of Tavares, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Nikki Phelps; granddaughter, Jodi Phelps; son-in-law, Gary Ohrt; and brother, Virgil Behrens.

A memorial fund has been established in his memory.

Online condolences may be shared at .

Published Oct. 6, 2011, in The Gazette