Mildred Helen Wilson

WILSON, GREENING, SCHORTAU, GALYEN, FRATZKE, MCKERNAN, LAWLESS, GEHRKE, RAPP, SOMMARS, HOHMANN, PINK, MICHAEL, LAWLESS

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 11/27/2010 at 19:31:19

Jesup – Mildred Helen Wilson, 93 of Jesup, IA, died peacefully Thursday, November 25, 2010, with her family beside her at the Buchanan County Health Center – Long Term Care Unit, Independence, IA.

She was born December 15, 1916, on a family farm near Westgate, IA. She was the daughter of George and Ella (Greening) Schortau.

She attended the German Lutheran School at Westgate, IA, before traveling to Chicago where she worked as a nanny for a family with three children.

Mildred was united in marriage to John Donald (J.D.) Wilson on March 30, 1940, in Oelwein, IA. She worked at Chamberlain Manufacturing in Waterloo, IA, during WWII while her husband was in the service. J.D. and Mildred made their home and raised their children in Jesup. J.D. preceded her in death on February 20, 1996.

Mildred was a wonderful mother and homemaker. She enjoyed flowers and gardening baking delicious breads and desserts, and making warm colorful quilts for her family. She also loved nature and collected family pets of every kind. But most of all, Mildred loved and was devoted to her family. Her happiest time was Christmas Eve with all her family gathered in her home. She attended Grace Lutheran Church in Jesup where she was a member for over 70 years.

Those to cherish her memory are her four children. Becky Galyen of Merrill, IA, Pamm (Jerry) Fratzke of Jesup, IA, Andrew Wilson of Denver, CO, and Mark Wilson of Jesup, IA and his special friend Theresa Truog of Littleton, IA, also two grandchildren, Scott Galyen of Des Moines, IA and Adriane (Matt) McKernan of Cedar Falls, IA. She is also survived by six sisters, Ivah Lawless of Fayette, IA, Eleanor Gehrke of Sumner, IA, Helen Rapp of Cedar Falls, IA, Dorothy Sommars of Los Angeles, CA, Adella (Jerry) Hohmann of Wheaton, IL, and Alyce (Fred) Pink of Phoenix, AZ, also a sister-in-law, Agnes Michael of Oelwein, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, J.D. she is preceded in death by an infant sister, her son-in-law, James Galyen, brothers-in-law, Floyd Lawless and Otto Rapp and nephew Stephen Hohmann.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2010, at Grace Lutheran Church, Jesup, IA, with Rev. Ronald Roland officiating. Mrs. Richard Schaefer will be the organist. Casket Bearers will be Jerry Fratzke, Matt McKernan, Scott Galyen, Duane Rapp, Richard Schaefer and Rick Heth.

Burial will be at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Independence, IA.

Memorials will be directed to Grace Lutheran Church in Jesup.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, where there will be a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Monday.

Visitation will continue for an hour before services Tuesday at the church.