Obituary of Marvin C. Brummel

Marvin Brummel, age 61, of 1473 Buckingham Place in Iowa City, died of a courageous battle with prostate cancer at Mercy Hospital on January 8, 2005 surrounded by those who loved him dearly. Marvin Carl Brummel was born April 17, 1943, in Aurora, Illinois, the son of Carl and Margaret (Nicholson) Brummel. Following graduation from Saint Frances High School in Wheaton, Illinois, he enrolled and later graduated from Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, IL with a B.S. degree in chemistry. He completed his graduate work here at the University of Iowa receiving his Master’s degree in 1967. On December 18, 1965, Marv married Gail Walsh in Wheaton, Illinois. The couple has lived in Iowa City since their marriage, where Marv had been a research assistant in the Departments of Biochemistry and Pediatrics at the University of Iowa for over twenty-five years until his retirement. Most recently, he had worked as a photo specialist for Walgreen’s drugstore. Marv touched so many people’s lives during his lifetime, his many coworkers, students, faculty and other colleagues in his profession. In our community, he was active in numerous civic organizations throughout the years, including but not limited to, Systems Unlimited where he served as treasurer for two years, Reach for Your Potential where he served as chairman of their first board of directors, and various other mental health groups. He also served as President of the Iowa City Gideon Camp for two years. His Christian faith was the backbone of who Marv was and sustained him throughout his life. He was very active at Saint Andrew. He chaired and participated in various Bible study groups throughout the years, teaching both youth and adult Sunday School, and served as Sunday School Superintendent for 2 years. He was one of the first at Saint Andrew to become a Stephan Minister. His surviving family includes his wife, Gail; son, Jason, who resides in a Reach for Your Potential home in Iowa City; daughters, Kristin Donbrock and her husband Dave of Portland, Michigan, and Laurie Brummel of Denver, Colorado; five grandchildren, Emma, Ashley, Cory, Darci, and Kara Donbrock; two brothers and their wives, Charles and Cathy Brummel of Glen Ellen, IL, and David and Mary Brummel of Warrenville, IL; brother-in-law and his wife Brian and Ruth Lynne Walsh of Oconomowoc, WI; two sisters-in-law, Deirdre Jennings of St. Charles, IL and Shannon Walsh of Iowa City; Marv is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well. Marv was preceded in death by his parents Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Cancer Care of Iowa City and Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.