Emmett Marion Reben, Jr.

Emmett Marion Reben, Jr., 88, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2018. Services will be held at Oakwood United Methodist Church, 400 NE 56th Street, Pleasant Hill, where Emmett was a member. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 28th. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 1st, and will conclude with burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, with Pastor Richard Boatman officiating.

Emmett was born in Mt. Levi, Arkansas on October 10, 1929, to Emmett Reben, Sr. and Lora (Smith) Reben. At the age of 9, the family moved to Tama, Iowa. He graduated from Tama High School.

Emmett was united in marriage to Carolyn Bridgeford on November 30, 1952, at the Methodist Church in Conrad, Iowa. He retired after 27 years working at Dico Manufacturing.

He enjoyed rock and fossil collecting, leather crafting, gardening, stamp collecting, and furniture refurbishing. He could repair anything. He was a very hard working, kind man and will be greatly missed.

Emmett is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carolyn; daughter, Kathryn (David) Lease of Prior Lake, MN; sons, Dale and Steven (Sheila) of Des Moines; grandsons, Jascha Lease (Tracy Griffith) of Cottage Grove, MN, Steven (Tiffany) and Corey of Des Moines, and Jeremy (Jiaxue “Snow”) of Pleasant Hill. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren: Jazmine, Alivia, Elizabeth, Kori, Kelce, Bella, Steven II, Linyin, and Linli; mothers of grandsons, Julie Reben and Patricia Reben; sister, Lori Evans of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Barbara (Gary) Brown of Alta Loma, CA; and brother-in-law, Wayne Gibson of Tama, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ella Gibson and Wilma (Malvin) Zika; and brother-in-law, William Evans.

Memorials may be made to Oakwood UMC, Mercy Hospice, or to the family.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

The family wishes to thank Mercy Home Care and Mercy Hospice for the wonderful care they gave Emmett.

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