Obituary of Marvin Dobe

Marvin Edwin Dobe, 82, died peacefully on Friday, June 8, 2012 at his home in Wyanett Township after 7 years with dementia. He was born November 21, 1929 to Edwin and Isabelle (Fredrickson) Dobe in Spring Vale, Isanti County, MN. The family attended Cambridge Lutheran Church where he was confirmed. Every school morning he did farm chores, walked to school, and tended the stove with wood. His outdoor fun was shooting fish in the creek with bow and arrow and hunting with his 22 which be bought for $15 with money he earned by trapping muskrats. It still shoots very well. As a kid he was always a helping friend to others. He kept the pond clear of snow for neighbor kids to skate on. Marvin started 9th grade at Cambridge but after a few months quit school to help his folks on the farm. He joined 4H where he proudly raised and groomed his White Face steers to win prizes at the Isanti County Fair. Tears fell when he had to sell them. His favorite was Butch who shook hands with the judges like a pet dog. Mrs. Stewart's bluing kept the white coat sparkling. On October 26, 1948 he joined the US Army with several men from North Branch going to basic training in Texas. He married Valerie Devenport. They had two sons, Wesley and Chester. He was discharged October 25, 1949. Then he entered the National Guard. His second tour in the Army deployed him to Japan where he managed the motor pool and trained Japanese to repair their vehicles. He retired from the Army in June of 1952 at Staff Sgt. with an Honorable Discharge. This experience was inspiration for doing auto body work at Hansord Pontiac. He won many awards for his superior worth ethics. He and Valerie would divorce. He married Charlotte Bandy to help take care of his sons. During this marriage he became an Arthur Murray Ballroom Instructor. He taught at many studios including one in his home. They divorced in 1991. He married Audrey Lindman who loved dancing and cooking. He took special care of her through her several months bout with cancer until she died June 1994. On December 21, 1997, he married Marian Hawk Fredlund at Joy Lutheran Church. Marvin taught her his elegant dancing so they could dance and teach classes together. He also introduced her to rifle shooting to hunt deer on their 40 acre wooded property where they built 10 foot deer stands with propane heaters, swivel stools, carpet etc. They both shot deer and wild boar in Texas. Marvin had one good elk hunt in Colorado to hang a rack on their wall. Other adventures they enjoyed were several trips to Mobridge, South Dakota to shoot many many prairie dogs. From an old freezer he made his own smoker for venison and salmon from three trips to Sheboygan, WI. Trap shooting was a new adventure for them both which they did in their backyard and at Braham and Cambridge Sportsmen's Clubs. Keeping his guns clean, oiled and reloading hundreds of shells to guarantee shooting proficiency were his proud pastimes, plus their prolific gardens.. While using their John Deere's, his and hers, they kept a yard, garden and paths to the deer stands groomed. The lucrative vegetable garden for canning and freezing their produce especially tomato sauce, apple juice, cucumber pickles and several varieties of squash were their dual efforts. He tolerated, helped her dig and fertilize her too many flower gardens. They enjoyed their many dogs and cats for their country family especially his favorite shih-tzu Dolly always beside him on the couch or bed. When the dementia took over his life curtailing each of his workaholic activities one at a time that he used to do all the time, he settled to feeding wonderful colorful birds outside the living room window, chasing away the pesky red, gray, and black squirrels and an occasional bear who stole feeders to the woods. TV hunting and fishing stories always had positive memories like, "Remember when we did that?" He never missed Lawrence Welk and dance programs. His parents, Edwin and Isabelle Dobe and his special younger brother LeRoy preceded him in death. May God bless this kind smiling gentle man who leaves to mourn, his wife, Marian; son, Wesley and Kathy Dobe; Granddaughter Alana, of New Hope; son, Chester Dobe of Vadnais Heights; brother, Rodney and Shirley Dobe, of Illinois; sister Idelle and John Tapper of Houston, Texas; sister in law Jody Dobe, of Cambridge, MN; brother in law Harry and wife Helen Hawk of Glyndon, M, his devoted PCA, Barb Davis; and many cousins and friends.