Clarence Q. Urbain, 33, carpenter, assisted in an attempt to rescue Lawrence Lowell Waters from a cave-in in an excavation, Epworth, Iowa, May 16, 1958. (See case of LAWRENCE LOWELL WATERS.)
44847-4281Obituary
Clarence Q. Urbain, 95, of Epworth, Iowa, died on Aug. 6, 2020, at Bethany Home in Dubuque, Iowa.
He was born on April 24, 1925, on a farm 1 ½ miles east of Placid, Iowa, the youngest son of six children born to James L. and Mamie (Lawler) Urbain. On May 17, 1951, he was united in marriage to Eleanor “Julie” Horsfield, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa. Together they raised three children, Grace (Charles) Smith of Des Moines, Iowa; Brenda (Nigel) Alexander of Denver; and David Urbain, who preceded Urbain in death.
He was loved by his six grandchildren, Bill (Kara) Urbain, Stefanie (Greg) Meinhardt, Bob (Amber) Urbain, Kelsey (Cody) VerHuel, Jordan Alexander, and Mitchell Urbain; and his six great grandchildren, Nolan Urbain, Samantha and Catherine Meinhardt, and Mary Claire, Ellie and Lane Urbain.
Urbain was a devout Catholic and was a member of the St. Patrick’s Parish in Epworth. A veteran, he was drafted into the Army in 1946 during World War II. He was a member of the Epworth American Legion John White Post #650.
Urbain also served with the Epworth Fire Department from 1952 to 1980, retiring at the rank of captain and EMT. Retired Epworth firefighter Dorrance McDermott, who spent years serving alongside Urbain, described him to the (Dubuque, Iowa) Telegraph Herald as a role model for others.
“He was a leader,” he said for a story published on Aug. 12, 2020. “The younger guys looked up to him. He was just an all-around good guy.” Epworth Fire Chief Tom Berger told the Telegraph Herald that Urbain also contributed to the construction of the former Epworth fire station in 1973.
Urbain was awarded the Carnegie Medal, which is given to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree. He also served on the Epworth City Council for 19 years and was involved in pretty much everything Epworth for decades.
Urbain was a contractor, building many homes and businesses in the area. He spent the last 17 years of his career working at the Divine Word Seminary in Epworth.
Urbain was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed playing euchre, fishing and anything outdoors. He often said, “The best time to go fishing is when you can.”
He also was preceded in death by his brothers, Dennis, James, and Ed, and sisters, Lucille Healy and Margaret Siefker.
He was buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth, with full military honors.
(Edited from an obituary published on the website for the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth.