KIES, Phyllis Irene 1921-2012

KIES

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/10/2013 at 20:40:53

Phyllis I. Kies, age 90, of Odebolt, Iowa, died Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Odebolt Nursing & Rehab Center in Odebolt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt, Iowa, under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Homes. The Reverend Glenn Hansen will officiate, with burial to follow in the Odebolt Cemetery. Friends may call at Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home in Odebolt on Monday from 4-8 p.m., with the family present from 6-8 p.m.

Born March 13, 1921, in Westside, Iowa, Phyllis Irene Kies was the daughter of Gus and Irene (Dohse) Benning. She attended school at Westside and later graduated from Holstein High School. She earned her two-year teaching diploma at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls in 1947, and her BA degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake in 1967.

On December 30, 1950, she was united in marriage to Arnold W. Kies at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Odebolt, Iowa.

Phyllis was a teacher for 45 years, beginning at country schools in the Ida Grove and Holstein areas. She taught seventh and eighth grades as well as vocal and instrumental music at Arthur and Lone Rock, then came to Odebolt and taught sixth grade until her marriage. Phyllis later taught kindergarten at Early and Nemaha for several years and continued at Odebolt teaching second grade and kindergarten until retiring in 1987.

She and Arnold farmed north of Odebolt until moving into town in 1979.

Phyllis was involved with the restoration of the Petersen Pioneer Home as a member of Questers, and was a member of the Tuesday Club and helped with the Odebolt Museum. An important part of her life was her church, where she held offices, taught Sunday school, directed the choir, and served as church organist.

Music, antiques, reading, traveling, and the lives of her many students were among her special interests.

Survivors include her son, Doug Kies of Paullina; a brother, Russell Benning of Holstein; a sister, Gladys Groszkruger of Dallas, TX; a sister-in-law, Joan (Leon) Petersen of Ida Grove; two nieces, Carla Brooks of Rockwell, TX, and Tamra (Fred) Wulff of Omaha, NE; and two nephews, David (Karen) Petersen of Ida Grove, and Chris (Kim) Petersen of Ames.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, on January 15, 1997; her parents; Arnold's parents, William and Katherine Kies; and a brother-in-law, Carl Groszkruger.

[Source: Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home]