MANLY, IOWA — Ila Jeane (Liljedahl) Hebel, 97, of Manly, passed away peacefully Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Manly Specialty Care.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 12, at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, 410 N. Broadway St. in Manly.
A celebration of life gathering will follow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Manly Junction Railroad Museum, 3725 Orchid Ave. in Manly.
Ila was born February 8, 1929, in Northwood, the daughter of John and Olga (Groe) Liljedahl.
She married Emil Hebel, and the couple shared 40 years of marriage before his death on August 29, 1988.
In a remarkable coincidence, Ila passed away exactly 38 years later on August 29, 2026.
Throughout her long life, Ila found happiness in the people closest to her and in simple activities she enjoyed. She loved golfing, tackling crossword puzzles and spending time with friends through the Red Hat Club.
Above all, family remained at the center of Ila’s life.
She is survived by her six children, Dennis (Dianne) Hebel of Venice, Florida; Shirley (Jim) Hartwig of Lakeville, Minnesota; Patti (Bruce) Anderson of Lake Mills; Jerry (Joann) Hebel of Manly; Bonnie (Chris) Morris of Guttenberg; and Barb (Mike) Mikesh of Belmond.
Ila also leaves behind 14 grandchildren: Stacy Anderson Gisel (Jason) of Dallas, Texas; Matthew Hartwig (Christine) of Cannon Falls, Minnesota; Vanessa Hebel Fultz (Brian) of Sharpsburg, Georgia; Hillary Hebel Vlastica (Romano) of Knoxville, Tennessee; Travis Hartwig of Cannon Falls; Alissa Anderson Jensen of Rochester, Minnesota; Emily Morris of Waterloo; Nichol Hebel Perkovich (Zach) of Clear Lake; Samantha Julsen Youngblood (Kyle) of Jefferson; Dan Morris (Ashley) of Walker; Taylor Julsen Schwichtenberg (Alex) of Johnston; Brandon Hebel of Ankeny; Alexa Julsen Smock (Troy) of Dyersville; and Jill Anderson Schacherer (Pat) of Urbandale.
Her family continued to grow through the generations, and Ila was also blessed with 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include her brother, Orin (Sandy) Liljedahl; sisters-in-law Carol Liljedahl and Dorothy Naples; brother-in-law Gary Snider; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Ila was preceded in death by her husband, Emil; her parents, John and Olga Liljedahl; son-in-law Brad Julsen; siblings Arden Liljedahl, Marlin Liljedahl and Eileen Snider; along with other relatives and in-laws.
Her nearly century-long life leaves generations of family members with memories of a woman who treasured those around her and valued the friendships she formed along the way.
Bride Colonial Chapel in Manly is caring for Ila and her family. To view the funeral home’s complete tribute and service information, please click here.
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