John Udney Hubbeling

Having lived a long and mostly healthful and independent life to the age of 95, John Udney Hubbeling, passed away at his home near Ingram, TX, on December 25, 2023.

John was born to the late Fred and Gertrude Hubbeling in Harrison, South Dakota, on November 25, 1928. His family later moved to and farmed near Ayrshire, Iowa. It was a hard life, and most anyone who knew John probably knows many stories like the unexpected blizzard of 1940 when the turkeys froze in the trees. At age 14, John’s parents returned to South Dakota so his dad could get medical treatment for injury sustained during WW1. John remained on the Ayrshire farm, assuming all of the responsibilities of growing crops and taking care of livestock, which included horses, cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950, and served as an airplane mechanic during the Korean War.

While stationed at the base in Waco, Texas, he met, and, after a brief courtship, married JoAnn Humphrey on September 6, 1953. The couple lived in Greenville, Mississippi where John was stationed in the Air Force. Soon after, they began their family, residing in Canyon and Gruver, Texas, and where John earned his bachelor of science degree from West Texas State. Together they bore and raised six children. With JoAnn being legally blind and unable to drive most of her life, John was her chauffeur.

In 1962, they moved to Iowa to help with John’s family farm in Ayrshire, but they landed more permanently in Pomeroy, Iowa, where John took a teaching position. Economics drove them off of the farm but never did drive the frugal farm way out of John. He inherited from his beloved mother Gertrude a resourceful, resilient hard-working ethic. From a young age, John had an affinity for taking things apart and putting them back together. He loved knowing how things worked and knowing how to fix things, which led to his love of tractors, airplanes, machinery, tools, and also led to several decades of him working in appliance and tv repair.

While in Iowa, they were members of First Baptist Church in Ayrshire (a church founded by his missionary grandparents, John and Ida Firth) and Bethel Baptist Church in Newell, Iowa.

In 1994, the couple retired to their current home near Ingram, Texas, so that they could spend more time with their children and grandchildren. John and JoAnn found their church home at Hunt Baptist Church, in Hunt, Texas. They enjoyed their rural homestead in Ingram, planting many trees and flowers, and also having quite a few cats. John remained active as a chaplain in the American Legion and was also a member of the VFW.

He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, JoAnn (Humphrey) Hubbeling of Ingram. The couples six children survive, listed in birth order: Steve Hubbeling and wife Debbie of Marble Falls, TX; Mike Hubbeling and wife Teri of Austin, TX, Susan Essing husband Mitch of Alden, IA; Sally Mirabella and husband Mike of New Waverly, TX Daniel Hubbeling wife Kim of San Antonio, TX and Linda Wattonville husband Jason of Alleman, IA. His fifteen grandchildren include: Nicole Dewey, Drew and Aaron Hubbeling Harper and Tess Hubbeling, Rachael Hubbeling and Derek and Abby Essing Amanda and Michael Mirabella, Madison, Olivia (and later Riley, Saylor and Sofie) Wattonville. His great-grandchildren are: Jayne Dewey, Alison and Phoebe Hubbeling, Adley and Vaughn Karriker, Hayden, Jett, Dax and Liam Essing, and Charlotte and Walter Goodrich, and Ella Martin. He is predeceased by his parents, Fred and Gertrude Hubbeling, and his two younger sisters, Mary Pecenka and Martha Bailey and numerous dearly loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

In his honor, we join for a closed casket Funeral Service, to be held at Hunt Baptist Church on December 29, 2023 at 11 AM, officiated by his Pastor, John Collis. Interment will follow at Hunt Japonica Cemetery. The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, support and care for John and our family.