George Raymond Doble, the son of Forrest and Emily (Usher) Doble, was born Sept. 25, 1915, on a farm near Rice, Minn. He was a part of a family of seven brothers and five sisters. He attended schools near Parkers Prairie and Joy, Minn. When he was 18 years old, he worked for the Bell Telephone Co. in Duluth, Minn., and later drove semi from Belvidere, Ill., to Chicago. In 1936, he came to Iowa to work as a hired man on a farm in the Garner area.

In March of 1941, he was drafted into the Army and had basic training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., and Camp Claiborne, La. In February of 1942, he left for active duty in World War II in England, Africa and Italy. George served 31 months in the European Theatre with the 34th Division Signal Corp Red Bull Division - 5th Army. While on furlough, he married Elvira Hollatz on Sept. 12, 1944, in Belvidere, lll. He was honorably discharged from the Army in August of 1945.

In March of 1946, George and Elvira started farming northeast of Garner and in 1957 continued farming near Klemme. In 1960, they purchased the Sport Bowl in Garner and moved into town. The family continued to operate the bowling alley until 1982. During this time, George also drove school bus for the Garner-Hayfield School District. After semi-retiring in 1984, he drove a mail route for five years.

George and Elvira were camping enthusiasts and took many camping vacations. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, sports, having coffee in the morning with his friends, and spending time with his grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Paul Men's Club and held several laymen's offices in the church. He was an active member of the Garner American Legion and VFW. George had been the commander of the VFW firing squad of the ceremonial unit for many years.

He is survived by his four sons, Dennis Doble of Garner, Joel Doble and his wife, Michelle, of Platte City, Mo., Curtiss Doble and his wife, Michelle, of Shoreview, Minn., and Bill Doble and his wife, Pat, of Garner; a son-in-law, Stan Greiman and his wife, Michele, of Garner; 13 grandchildren, Brian Doble, Sara Bakken and her husband, Brad, Lori Doble, Ed Greiman and his wife, Cindy, Angie Homann and her husband, Dave, Matt Greiman and his wife, Angie, step-grandson, Brandon Stromer, Nikki Katter and her husband, Sam, Misty Doble, step-grandson Jamie Stromer, Nathan Doble, Amanda Doble, Megan Doble, Staci Doble and Jasmine Doble; seven great grandchildren, Taylor Homann, Joshua Homann, Reid Homann, Abigail Doble, Alexander Doble, Brianna Bakken, Grace Greiman; two step-great grandchildren, Tyson and Joshua Stromer; and a sister, Sylvia Gadbaw of Seattle, Wash., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elvira, on July 26, 1996; his daughter, Wendy Greiman, Sept. 6, 1985; his parents; six brothers, Stacey, Leonard, Marion, Wayne, Arnold and Leslie Doble; and four sisters, Florence Olson, Laura Baker, Viola Swanson and Virginia Welch.