Glen Herbert Zirbel

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 West First Street, Ankeny, Iowa 50023. There will be a Visitation at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services on Thursday. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date with full military rites in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Swaledale, Iowa.

Glen Herbert Zirbel was born on October 28, 1930, in Rockwell, Iowa to Alfred Emil and Ruth Margaret (Holt) Zirbel. He graduated from High School in 1949. On November 14, 1950, Glen enlisted into the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Germany for two years. He was united in marriage to Frieda (Lola) Leemhuis, to whom their daughter, Lovella (Mike), was born. The couple later divorced. Glen was later united in marriage to Dolores Wood-Bamman and gained 2 daughters, Kathryn and Barbara. Glen and Dolores went on to have 4 more daughters, Julie, Cindy, Melinda and Melissa. Yes, seven daughters in all! After the passing of Dolores, Glen and Lola found love again and were happy together until his passing.

Glen owned and operated Zirbel Auto Crushing before retiring. He was an avid runner for many years, which included many marathons, 50 K’s, and 100 K’s. Most of all, Glen dearly loved spending time in his flourishing garden and sharing the bounty with family and friends.

Glen is survived by his partner, Lola; children, Kathryn (Roger) Olthoff, Mike Carpenter, Barbara (Dennis) Gauley, Cindy Braniger, Melinda Gray, and Melissa Neubauer; fourteen grandchildren, Travis, Lisa, Jill, Matthew, Chrissy, Eric, Ashley, Cory, Kailey, Lindsey, Janel, Lacey, Laura, Noah; several great-grandchildren, and six siblings, Margaret, Rachel, Paul, David, Mark, Doreen.

Glen has been preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Ruth; wife, Dolores; daughter, Julie; sons-in-law, Bob and Jerry, and siblings, Keith, Donald, and Fred.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family and will be given to a charity of their choosing at a later date in loving memory of Glen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.ankenyfuneralhome.com for the Zirbel family.