Hubert W. Randels
August 17, 2013
Hubert W. Randels passed away on August 17, 2013 at Taylor House in Des Moines. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 2013 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 6th Avenue in Des Moines, with his interment being held at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW in Altoona.
Herb, as he was known to his friends, was born October 13, 1929 in New London, Iowa. He was the middle son of the Rev. Ivo G. Randels and Flo Aleta Randels, both deceased. His first wife, Doris, passed away in 1997 after 45 plus years of marriage. He is survived by his present wife and best friend, Marge Sexton-Randels; his two brothers, Wendell (Phyllis) and Paul (Marilyn) Randels; two children, John Randels and Linda (Craig) Carson; three grandchildren, Zachary Roth, Joshua Roth and Cheyenne Randels; six stepchildren, Lori Olivier, Charles Sexton, Brett Sexton, Mark Sexton, Sheryl Dahm and Craig Sexton, as well as their children and grandchildren.
His father was a minister in the Christian Church and the family moved several times in his early years, living in Truro, Iowa; Lenox, Iowa; Harrison, Arkansas; Marshall, Arkansas; Engelwood, Colorado; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Des Moines, Iowa; and graduating from high school in Oakland, Iowa.
He was active in sports in high school, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. His love of sports followed him all the days of his life. He was an avid Hawkeye fan.
For many years he managed and played fast pitch softball sponsored by his local union, CWA 7102, and also managed a little league baseball team in the Fairgrounds Little League. He went to work as a lineman for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1950. A year later, he went off to war in the Korean Conflict in the United States Air Force.
His brothers and father served their country in several wars as well. His father served in World War I in France and W.W.II in Italy as a chaplain. His younger brother was a Navy Doctor, serving two tours in Vietnam, and his older brother, Wendell, served in the Navy in the Pacific in W.W.II and was recalled in the Korean War. His family was duty-bound to serve their country.
Herb’s career took a different path in the early ‘60s, when he was elected president of CWA 7102, the Union that represented Northwestern Bell Telephone employees in Des Moines and the surrounding areas. He served as local president until promoted to International Representative with the International Union in 1972, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1992.
He served his fellow man in many capacities as a representative of his union. He was a past member of the following organizations: Polk County Health Planning Council, Goodwill Industries Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Des Moines Board of Directors, Chairman of Industrial Relations Research Association, 1st Vice President of Blue Shield Board of Directors, board member of Polk County Federation of Labor – AFL-CIO, board member of Iowa Employment Security Commission, Telco Credit Union Board of Directors, 9-year board member and past president of Saydel School District Board of Directors, O.S.H.A. Commissioner appointed by Gov. Robert Ray and reappointed by Gov. Branstad, member of American Legion Post #682, Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, active member and elder of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and active in local and national politics serving as a co-chairman in one of Tom Miller’s campaign for Iowa Attorney General, County Chairman for Robert Fulton’s campaign for Governor, was a delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention in 1972 and was active in local city and county politics for many years.
At the end of the day it was safe to say he served and loved his God, community, state and country. The motto he strived to live by was a line from a Robert Frost poem, “For I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” This line was framed and hung on his office wall. Needless to say, he led a very active life until his retirement.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Saydel Athletic Boosters or the American Lung Association in loving memory of Herb.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Brenda Bond
08/22/2013
Hi Marge its Brenda The cook at the Altoona nursing home was so sorry to hear about Hubert. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tom Sepic
08/21/2013
Marge, John & Linda,
I have known and worked with your Husband, Dad since the late 70's until his retirement in 1992. He was a great negotiator and always looking out for the members of the CWA. He was always fair and treated everyone well. And while we were always on opposite sides, I am proud to say we were friends. Thanks for sharing Herb with us. Tom Sepic GTE
Lynn & Dave McCormick
08/21/2013
Marge & Mark & Linda:
May you find comfort in cherished memories and know that Herb has taken a piece of you with him to heaven. In kind, he leaves you his love to hold dear forever. We send our deepest sympathies and kind regards. Love, Lynn & Dave McCormick
Judith Belken
08/20/2013
Uncle Heribie,
You were a good uncle to us.
My father Harold Belken, thought more of you than just a decent brother-in-law. You were a good man, and a damn good union man.
May you be at peace.. We were lucky to know you.
Love forever, your niece
Judith Raelene Belken
Missy Logie
08/20/2013
Herb will be missed at our extended "family" gatherings lakeside at Lori's. We're so glad to have gotten to know him and so happy he had Marge as a best friend. Friends and family enrich Life so greatly and we are grateful for the good times we shared. Love from Missy and Keith Logie
Diane Shortell McClung
08/20/2013
I want to say I am so sorry for your loss. My parents, who have passed, were close friends for many years, and as a child I and my siblings played at Herb's home. Your family are in my prayers. God Bless, Diane Shortell McClung