Margaret A. Zabel, 82

Margaret A. Zabel

Blue Earth Margaret A. Zabel, age 82, of Blue Earth, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center, Blue Earth.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 8, 2013, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth. The Rev. Leo Koppala officiated. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service assisted the family with the arrangements.

Margaret was born Jan. 24, 1930, in Mapleton, the daughter of Lawrence and Gertrude (Gartner) Minkel. She was raised and educated in Mapleton where she attended Mapleton High School. She was married to Orville E. Zabel on May 15, 1950, in Mapleton. The couple soon moved to Frost where they farmed and Margaret was a homemaker, raising eight children. She had also worked seasonally at Green Giant and was a nurse’s aide at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center for 14 years before retiring in 1992. She enjoyed her many vegetable gardens, embroidery and following the Minnesota Twins.

Margaret is survived by her children, Gene (Janet) Zabel, of Blue Earth, Jerry (Tammy) Zabel, of Blue Earth, Debra (Carl) Wentz, of Blue Earth, Kris (Monte) Kroeze, of Faribault, Sheryl (Darrel) Danks, of Hutchinson, Mark (Karen) Zabel, of Kiester, Brian (Stacey) Zabel, of Owatonna, and Michelle (Kevin) Dardis, of St. Clair; sister, Gen Besser, of Wells; sister-in-law, Emily Minkel, of Mapleton; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Orville, in 2004; brother, Donald Minkel; and brother-in-law, James Besser.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com