Doris Margaret Rubel

It is to our deep regret that Mrs. Doris Margaret (Upmann) Rubel passed away at 11:30 p.m. on July 21st, 2020 due to a brief illness. 

We will remember Doris as an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to all she knew. 

Doris was a generous and kind person who loved to meet people and genuinely make them feel welcome. Doris had a very strong faith in God and welcomed her place into heaven. Doris enjoyed travel playing euchre and above all being with family and friends, especially her lifelong friends, the Little Rascals. 

Born in Dubuque, Iowa Doris attended a one-room schoolhouse in Sandridge, Illinois and eventually graduating from Dubuque Wahlert high school. In 1961 Doris married the love of her life James Lee Rubel. While raising a family of three children in Springbrook, Iowa, Doris was a community volunteer, involved in farming and real estate ventures, and eventually owning and operating Crystal Lake cave in Dubuque Iowa for 40 years. 

Having met Doris, people from all over the world were left with the indelible impression that Iowa is an incredible place to visit and live and that Iowans are kind, reliable, resilient and hardworking people.

Doris is preceded in death by her beloved husband James Lee Rubel, son Robert and daughter Angela Rubel, parents Leroy and Agnes (Averkamp) Upmann, brothers Ron, John and Richard Upmann, sisters-in-law Carol and Maryann Upmann, father and mother-in-law Edward and Carmen (Eganhouse) Rubel.

Doris is survived by sons Jeff (Gina) (Coralville, IA), Doug (Araceli) (Las Vegas, NV), daughter Julie (Dubuque), sisters Darlene (John) Skarda, Carol (Ed) Poock, and Deb Marcov, beloved nieces and nephews and her dearest grandchildren Travis Rubel, Lexi and Kelsey Ramirez.

Doris would often refer to as her sisters, are sisters-in-law Joan (Bob) Flick, Mary (Les) Lenstra, Bette (Ron) Juergens, Barb (Steve) O'Rourke, Ann (Vinnie) Lemkuhl.

Private mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Springbrook, Iowa with Rev. Lyle Wilgenbusch officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road is assisting the family. A live stream of the funeral mass will be posted to the funeral home Facebook page on Saturday.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.