Aurel May Urban

Aurel “Aurie” Urban, born December 21, 1934, in Royal, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She was the beloved daughter of Lamar and Ruth (Schuck) Englert. 

Aurie grew up on the family farm in Royal, where she developed a strong work ethic and a deep love for the outdoors. She spent her childhood helping with chores, gathering eggs, and walking the bean and corn fields. One of her fondest memories was spending time with the family pony, Nibbs. 

Active in 4-H throughout her youth, Aurie served as an officer and was a member of the demonstration team, proudly taking projects to the Clay County Fair in Spencer. In high school, she was a member of the girls’ basketball team, demonstrating both teamwork and perseverance. 

On June 23, 1956, Aurie married, Benjamin Lee Urban of Calumet. They began their life together in Cherokee before settling in Clarion in 1959. Aurie worked as an insurance clerk at the local hospital, where her dedication and hard work were honored with a gold watch after 25 years of service. 

In 2018, Aurie moved to Arizona to be closer to her family. She embraced her new home with the same enthusiasm and grace that defined her life. She enjoyed hiking, sewing, reading a good book, and cheering on her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.

 Aurie is survived by her children, Mark Urban of Denver, CO, and Jeff (Molly) Urban of Oro Valley, AZ; her grandchildren, Haley (Joey) Murphy of Marana, AZ, and Jared Urban of Tucson, AZ; her siblings Helen Burton of Phoenix, AZ; Pat Hobaica of Phoenix AZ; Ron (Jan) Englert of Spencer IA; Rich (Judy) Englert of Spencer, IA and Karen Bentley of Phoenix, AZ. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lamar and Ruth Englert; her husband, Ben Urban; her brothers Bernard Englert and Charles Englert; and her sisters Gene Brugman, Dorothy Gray and Shirley O’Brien. 

Aurie will be remembered for her warm heart, resilient spirit, and deep love for her family. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, hard work, and enduring devotion