LEO EBEL obituary

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Leo "Dutch" Rueben Ebel, 80, died on March 9, 2003.

Leo was born in Chinook to Jacob and Lillian Ebel on Dec. 3, 1922. Leo and his brothers and sisters moved to Moses Lake in the late 1920s. He attended school there. He was given the nickname of "The Moses Lake Midget" by the local press and fans. He was only 5 feet, 6 inches tall, but played like he was a foot taller than everyone else.

During his early years, he began a lifelong love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He built his home on the hill where he, as a boy, trapped squirrels.

Leo served his country during World War II as a worker in the Portland shipyards, a Merchant Seaman on a Liberty ship, and a medic and MP in the U.S. Army.

Leo returned to Moses Lake where he worked at the trade of cement finishing and later plastering. This later became Ebel Brothers Plastering. Many homes and businesses showcase his artistic talents. He later applied these talents in laying tile and left an unreproducible legacy in the area.

Leo married Charline "Chuck" Snow on Nov. 9, 1954. They were inseparable. Leo never did anything halfway and that included the love he had for Charline. This love spilled over into the lives of their children.

Leo was passionate about all activities and people in his life. His grandchildren and family were important to him and he loved to tell stories about them.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Lillian and Viola.

Survivors include his wife, Charline "Chuck" Ebel of Moses Lake; son, Bob (Rhonda) Ebel of Moses Lake; daughter, Sharon (Jeff) Nirk of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; brothers, Edward (Marge) Ebel and Harold (Phyllis) Ebel, all of Moses Lake; sister, Christina Vance of Colorado; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.