Merlin Dreibelbis

MERLIN "PAT" DREIBELBIS

Cedar Rapids

Merlin D. "Pat" Dreibelbis, 97, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, at his residence in The Meth-Wick Community. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, with brief services at 11 a.m. by Pastor Herb Isenberg, at Teahen Funeral Home. Family graveside services will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Belle Plaine at 1 p.m, with a lunch for friends and family following at The Catering Shop, 815 12th (Main) St., Belle Plaine.

Survivors include his wife, Minnie Trimble Dreibelbis, and a brother, Roy (Peg) Dreibelbis, of Bowie, Md.; nephew, Dick (Priscilla) Dreibelbis, Waynesboro, Va.; daughter, Cynthia (Tom) Scarlett of Chicago; son, David (Patty) of Duluth, Ga.; daughter, Deanne (Ron) Mirr of Iowa City; stepdaughters, Pam (Alex) Nenortas and Pat Bordwell, both of Belle Plaine; seven grand-children, Demi (Jeff) Brand, Alex (Sarah) Lafkas, Andrew Lafkas, Jennifer Moon, Caryn Dreibelbis, Nick Mirr and Ben Mirr; two great-granddaughters, Elise Brand and Jocelyn Moon; and several other stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Pat was preceded in death by his first wife, Crystal M. Stoffel Dreibelbis; his parents; two brothers; three sisters; and a daughter, Susan.

Pat, as he was nicknamed by his siblings, was born May 11, 1918, in Scotch Grove, Iowa, to Carrie Emma Miller Dreibelbis and Lewis Augustus Dreibelbis. He graduated from Center Junction High School, attended Lenox College in Hopkinton, and graduated from Cornell College, Mount Vernon. While at Cornell, Pat enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his pilot's license. He later became an instructor pilot for Hunter Flying Service and other private flying companies, as well as the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Crys on Dec. 19, 1942. After the war, he was an employee of John Deere in Wyoming before accepting a position with Citizens State Bank in Belle Plaine, where he eventually became an officer. He retired from the bank in the early '80s.

After retiring, Pat and Crys moved to Cedar Rapids. They enjoyed golf at the Cedar Rapids Country Club, playing bridge with friends, and participating in the congregation of First Presbyterian Church.

He and Minnie were married Jan. 13, 2002. They enjoyed visits with family and friends, always had fun playing cards, especially with Pam and Alex, and were just happy being together.

Pam has been a loving caregiver to Pat for the past three years.

Pat was passionate about flying and Hawkeye athletics, passions he shared with his brother, Roy. One of Pat's favorite stories was of his dad taking him and his older brother, Lew, to the first football game played in Kinnick Stadium. Imagine their joy while Roy was a Hawkeye athlete! Among other activities, he and his brother, Lew, enjoyed fishing together, and these two brothers passed this love onto their sons and grandsons. Pat also loved the game of golf, an avid interest he shared with his son, David.

Pat was a loyal supporter of Kirkwood Community College, the University of Iowa, and Four Oaks Foundation. He was an honorary trustee of Cornell College.

Memorials may be directed to Four Oaks, Cedar Rapids, or the Belle Plaine Community Library.

Online condolences may be left at www.teahen funeralhome.com.