David Priebe

The Mass of Christian Burial for David Priebe of Wadena will be celebrated at 11:00 am. on Saturday, October 5, at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Blue Grass with Father Lauren Germann as celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will be in St. Hubert’s Catholic Cemetery in Blue Grass. David, age 78, passed away of cancer on September 10. 2024, in the company of beloved family members at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. David was born to William “Bill” and Evelyn (Johnson) Priebe of North Germany Township, on March 22, 1946, in Wadena, MN. He grew up with 10 siblings on the family farm. After graduating with the Sebeka High School class of 1966, he entered the US Army serving two tours in Vietnam performing duties of aircraft hydraulic repair until his honorable discharge. He continued his service as a member of the Minnesota National Guard. In 1981, David joined the U.S. Navy and did aircraft hydraulics repair on the USS Ranger aircraft carrier. At the end of his Navy career, he rejoined the MN National Guard and worked in the food service department. By the time he retired in 1998, he had served 32 years in the military service to our country. He was a lifetime member of the Wadena VFW where he enjoyed helping with the food preparation for the annual community Lenten fish fry. On November 28, 1987, David married Elaine (Schwab) Gettel at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Blue Grass, MN. They made their home in rural Sebeka, before moving to Menahga, later to Fosston, and finally settling in Wadena with many loved ones and friends nearby. Over the years, David drove truck nationwide hauling freight, and locally for RDO out of Park Rapids. He also drove bulldozer and road grader while with Knife River. A people-oriented person, David was an absolute joy to be around with his kind heart and light-hearted sunny disposition. He was special to everyone. Each conversation with him brightened your day, and made you feel special, even blessed. David was truly a gift from God. He enjoyed having coffee with his friends and catching up on the daily news. He had many friends and always enjoyed making more! After being diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2021, David fought one of the hardest battles of his life. By 2022, cancer and the symptoms had him very close to death. Being the soldier he was, David struggled and fought his way back to two more wonderful years of life which could be considered nothing short of a miracle. In July of 2024, his cancer returned, and this was his final battle. The world lost a wonderful person with David’s passing, and it will be a much lonelier place without him. He will truly be missed by those who knew him. May he rest in peace. Preceding David in death were his wife, Elaine (2017); parents, William and Evelyn; siblings: Mildred Kruesel, Howard Priebe and Shirley Hanlon; and stepson, Jerome Gettel. Remembering David will be his siblings: Phyllis Thompson, Eileen Leino, Keith Priebe, Ken Priebe, Paula Juracek, Jeanette Anderson, and Lee Priebe; sisters-in-law, Monica Douglas of Hutchinson and Annette Schwab of Cotulla, TX; Elaine’s children: Joan (Craig Poorker) Miller and Robert (Jeanne Marty) Gettel; along with his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Honorary urn bearers will be John Nelson, Dennis Loween, Robert Gettel, Bill Hanlon, and everyone who called him friend. Military honors will be provided by the MNAGHG and the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wadena, MN. All memorials in David’s name will be directed to the Honor Flights for veterans.

David Priebe

March 22, 1946 - September 10, 2024