Henry J. Zirbel, 93, rural Chaseley, ND, passed away Friday, June 4, 2021 at Golden Acres Manor in Carrington, ND.  Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Chaseley United Methodist Church.  Burial will be at the Chaseley Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour before services at the church.  Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, ND.

Henry Zirbel, son of Henry John and Agnes (Dethloff) Zirbel, was born January 28, 1928 on his parents farm near Chaseley.  He was born, lived 93 years and lived on the same section of land-not many people do that.  He received his early education at a nearby country school and later attended Bowdon Public School.

Henry's happy childhood was shattered at the age of six with the murder of his father, a case which remains unsolved to this day.  The reverberations of this tragic event echoed through the rest of his life.

Henry began farming at an early age.  He was an accomplished welder and could picture projects in his head – no need for written plans.  On January 1, 1980 he was married to Margret Cose at Egeland, ND.  They made their home on the Zirbel farm north of Chaseley where they continued to farm and raise cattle until his retirement.  He "punched" his last cow at age 90, and planted trees nearly every year of his life up until 2019.  Henry loved his cattle, wildlife, the trees and nature in general.  He also enjoyed hunting, playing cards, and telling stories of growing up in North Dakota.  He was a longtime member of the Chaseley United Methodist Church.

As a child in the 1930's, he once asked his mother if he would live to see the year 2000.  She told him – "you will be 72 years old.  You might not make it."  Well, he DID! And 21 years after that to boot!

He is survived by nieces and nephews, Agnes Smith, Mary Pratt, Irene Bauer, Carroll Zirbel, Wayne Skaalen, Joyce Skaalen, Kenneth Sieber, Althea Hanson, Elaine Miller, Paula Bakken and Lanette Snyder, Also many great nieces and nephews.

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Henry was preceded in death by his parents; wife Margy, and brothers Raymond (Ruth), Carroll (Pearl), Lawrence Zirbel and infant brothers, Virgil and Kermit,.sisters  Elsie (Hilman) Skaalen, Elizabeth (Marwell) Sieber, Helen Hahn, Mimi (Ike) Ihme and infant sister,  and nephew Clarence Zirbel