Gilbert Wallace Behrens

Gilbert Wallace Behrens, 74, of Tipton, died peacefully with his family by his side Tuesday evening in the Hospice Unit of Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 11:00 am First United Methodist Church, Tipton, with Rev. Paul Frederiksen officiating. Burial will follow in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be his great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Gilbert was born December 6, 1936 in Lowden, Iowa to Walter W. and Viola M. Sieck Behrens. He graduated from Springdale High School in 1954. On August 5, 1955 Gilbert was united in marriage to Phyllis Marie Garvin in Muscatine, Iowa. Gilbert farmed most of his life. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tipton and a past member of the Cedar County Pork Producers. Gilbert is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Tipton; daughters, Barb (David) Snodgrass of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and Sandy Ohrt of Tipton, Iowa; son, Wayne (Nanette) Behrens of Atalissa, Iowa; grandchildren, Brad (Tiffany) Behrens, Brent Behrens, Jennifer Boedeker, Kelli Snodgrass, Heidi Snodgrass, Nick Ohrt and Nathan Ohrt; great grandchildren, Jacob, Justin and Brooke Boedeker, Carson Ryan and Jack Behrens; his sister, Lavonne (Massey) Cook of Tavares, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Nikki Phelps, granddaughter, Jodi Phelps, son-in-law, Gary Ohrt, and brother, Virgil Behrens.