Iris "Auntie" Zabel, 85, of Bridges Senior Living Community in Waterloo died Thursday, September 8, 2011 at Allen Memorial Hospital.

Iris was born May 29, 1926 in Postville, Iowa the daughter of Fay and Hazel Hangartner Harris.  She worked at Chamberlain Manufacturing for 34 years retiring in 1990.

Iris was a member of First Lutheran Church in Waterloo.  She was an active member of Waterloo Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 764 since 1977.  She was in charge of their John Deere Breakfasts for many years and was inducted into the Iowa Retired Eagles Auxiliary Club Hall of Fame in 2006.  Iris was a huge Hawkeye fan and she loved birds.  She enjoyed going to auctions and refinishing furniture that she found there.  She enjoyed woodworking and built a doll house and the furnishings for it.  She also enjoyed making stained glass windows.

Iris is survived by her daughters Cindy Zabel of Ankeny and Karen Hoffman and her husband Dave of Waterloo, two grandchildren: Kacie & Nick Hoffman, a brother Lee Harris and his wife Dorothy of Washburn, and many nieces, nephews, and a large extended family.

Iris is preceded in death by her parents, step father Jimmy Mackey, and three brothers: Dean, Merle, and Neil Harris.