MELVA J. URBAN, 98, of Newell, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024 at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 9, 2024 at the Bethel Baptist Church in Newell, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Tim Reed will officiate. Burial will be in the Cedar Cemetery at rural Larrabee, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Monday, December 9, 2024 at the church in Newell, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
The family suggests memorials be made in Melva’s honor to Cherokee Regional Hospice or the Iowa Department for the Blind.
Melva was born on August 22, 1926 to Ernest and Dora (Gries) Rasche. She attended Diamond #8, Eureka #3, Cherokee Lincoln School, Silver #9, and Quimby Consolidated. She had 11 years of schooling but did not graduate.
Melva was united in marriage to Francis William Urban on November 29, 1947 in Iowa City, Iowa. She worked many places, Farmer’s Production in Cherokee and a similar place in Iowa City, a day nursery and lemon packing house in California, snack bars and newsstands in Portland, Oregon. She was a live-in housekeeper for many different families. She received her GED in 1966 and graduated from Buena Vista College in 1971. She received her Nursing Home Administration license and took a satellite course from Bible College for 2 years. In 1988, she started Urban Breads and continued that business for 10 years In Newell. In 2003, she started a vending business and ran that for 12 years in Newell and the surrounding communities.
Melva had a deep and abiding faith in her savior, Jesus Christ. She was a dedicated prayer warrior for her family and friends.
Melva’s favorite hobby was music. She had a 4 piece band that she led with her accordion. She was the organist at Faith Bible Church for 20 years. She also enjoyed refinishing furniture. Melva belonged to the Federated Women’s Club, Toastmasters, Harmonettes, Buena Vista Genealogy, National Federation of the Blind, and the Legion Auxiliary.
Melva was preceded in death by her parents, husband Francis, son Craig Urban, grandson Cory Urban, brother Marvin Rasche, sisters Bernice Johnson and Vera Brandt.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Andrea Urban of Quimby, Iowa; grandchildren Daniel (Kailey) Urban of Eagan, Minnesota and their children, Eli, Penelope, and Ivy; Rebecca Urban of Burnsville, Minnesota; Naomi (Gage) Anderson of Apple Valley, Minnesota and their son Kaladin; Bethany Urban (Rami Haddad) of Alta, Iowa; Nathaniel Urban of Quimby, Iowa; Amanda (Adam) Lesher of Schaller, Iowa and their children, Savannah, Colton, and Cash; Amanda’s mom Connie Urban of Schaller, Iowa; sister Fern Ehrlich of Ocala, Florida.
