Albert Q. Ebel II, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at Kishwaukee Hospital, DeKalb, after a short illness. Albert was born on January 3, 1918, the seventh child out of eight to Albert Q. and Jenny (Larson) Ebel of Algonquin. He married the love of his life, Elwanda Marie Pilcher on August 29, 1942 at the Pastor''s Parsonage of the Baptist Church in Kahoka, MO. Albert is survived by his wife of 71 years, Elwanda, their three children, Son Albert Q. (Lindakay) Ebel III of Kingston and Lake Tomahawk, WI, children Robert, Greg, and Pamela; daughter Dorene (Milan) Reimer of Leoiti, KS, children Tanis, Duane, Janee'', Justin, and Kirk; daughter Carla (Richard) Walter of Rockford, sons Richard Jr., Andrew, and Scott; 20 great grandchildren; sister Eunice Andres of McHenry; as well as many nieces, nephews and special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers. Albert attended first-eighth grade at the Ford School in Algonquin (now being restored), and graduated from Dundee High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, and was one of the seven out of 700 who went to Washington DC for six months studying fire control for advance fire control, and he graduated with high honors and with the rank of 3rd Class, and was then assigned to the USS IOWA BB 61 on February 22, 1943 where he served his country firing the first shell and 1999 shells until his transfer to the switchboard. He was discharged August 1945 at the end of World War II. Through the years, Albert farmed in the Fox River Grove and Marengo areas, and farmed with his son Albert Q. Ebel III in the Genoa area until his retirement in 2009. Albert was very active on the school board of District 17, Executive Committee of Farm Home Administration, Master of Marengo Grange and McHenry County Pomona Grange and Executive Committee of Marengo Grange as well as serving as secretary of the McHenry County Pomona Grange. Albert also served as trustee and moderator at the First Baptist Church of Marengo, where he was a lifetime member; and served on the Advisory Board of Production Credit Association and Advisory of Federal Land Bank, and in 1984 he reorganized the Cook Creek drainage district. Albert served as Commander of Marengo VFW 1978-1980 and served on the Executive Committee of the Marengo VFW. He was also a life member of Post 337 in Genoa. Albert served on the executive board in 1985 and served as president of the USS Iowa Association 1986-1988 and was chairman of the USS Iowa Association Museum Committee from 1990-1999. He attended 35 of the 37 USS Iowa 61 Battleship reunions, and in July 2013, he was accompanied by his son, Albert W., and wife Lindakay Ebel of Kingston and daughter, Dorene (Milan) Reimer of Leoiti, KS to San Pedro, CA for the commission of the USS Iowa BB 61 Battleship as a floating museum. The ship was open to only plank owners for a week for this commission. Albert is a plank owner, having served on the ship from 1942 - 1945 and during this time he fired the 16 inch guns and maintained the computer that made the guns so accurate at a 24 mile range. This opening came just a month after the USS Iowa, one of the largest battleships ever, arrived in Los Angeles harbor and just 10 months after the Navy elected San Pedro as the site of the museum. Built in 1940, the Iowa was an important part of the Navy fleet for five decades. It ferried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Casablanca during World War II and later fought in the Pacific, sailing victoriously into Tokyo Bay. The Iowa served in the Korean War and the Persian Gulf in the 1980''s, the Iowa was the most prestigious ship in the Navy. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 9:30 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM at Windridge Funeral Home. Burial will be at Windridge Memorial Park, Cary. Arrangements handled by Windridge Funeral Home, 104 High Road, Cary, IL 60013. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Veterans Association of the USS Iowa, 24307 Magic Mountain Parkway #342, Valencia, CA 91355, (Please indicate that your donation is in memory of Albert Q. Ebel II) or to the American Heart Association.