ALBERT ‘JUNIOR’ EUGENE BERMEL

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Albert ‘Junior’ Eugene Bermel, 93, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Wilton Retirement Center.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church. The Reverend Chris Weber will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Rosary will follow the visitation. Memorials may be made to St. Croix Hospice, St. Mary’s Cemetery, or Wilton Retirement Home. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com

Albert was born on July 8, 1932, in Sweetland Township, the son of Albert A. Bermel and Lucille Stecher Bermel, being the youngest of 7 children. He married Rosemary Blaesing on September 6, 1953, at the St. Mary’s Church in Muscatine. He took care of his wife for the last 10 years of her life. She preceded him in death on February 4, 2021, after 67 years of marriage.

Albert lived and farmed in Sweetland his entire life, buying his farm in 1957. Farming began with milk cows and then hogs, all the while being a crop farmer. He retired from farming in 1994. He sold Asgrow Seeds from 1975 until 2000. Albert was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict from 1953 until 1955.

Albert was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Church in Muscatine, now Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church. He was always involved in the Sweetland Community and was always willing to help friends, family, and neighbors with whatever they needed. He was also a trustee of Sweetland Township for many years. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Farm Bureau, and American Legion.

Albert loved family gatherings, hot dog roasts at his farm, and watching his Westerns, especially Gunsmoke and Mollie B. Polka Party on Saturday nights. In recent years, he had become a huge Caitlin Clark fan and follower of the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball and the Indiana Fever. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and seeing the great grandkids.

Albert is survived by his children, Betty (Jim) Burch, Chris Luebbert, Mike (Cathy) Bermel, Dan (Penny) Bermel, Judy (Kim) Bartling, Sue (Jason) Boldt, Shelly (Joe) Corman; grandchildren, Nikki Smith, Jessi Freers, Marci Cole, Tony Luebbert, Amy Luebbert, Matt Keabert, Chad Bermel, Samantha Griffin, Brian Bermel, Stasha Wilks, Stephanie Brockert, Zach Bartling, Joe Bartling, Tyler Miller, Nathan Miller, David Miller, Austin Cavazos, Logan Cavazos, Conner Corman, and Hunter Boldt; 24 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; sisters, Delores Hammann and Arlene Daufeldt; and special friends and neighbors, Dave Symmonds, DeWayne and Linda Hatcher, and Gary McCullough.  

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosemary; siblings, Frank Bermel, Evelyn Jewett, Paul Bermel, and Dorothy Fuller; and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.