Sylvia Grace Westercamp (1911-1998)

WESTERCAMP, MARTIN, SCHARFF, BENSCOTER, MCVAY, NICHOLSON, ATCHISON, LORD

Posted By: Anonymous volunteer
Date: 7/19/2024 at 17:09:10

Sylvia Grace Westercamp was born Jan. 20, 1911, to Lena Gertrude Martin and Garrett Scharff near Searsboro. From the age of 13 upon her mother's death, Sylvia raised her five brothers and sisters. She graduated from Ottumwa High School with honors in 1929. She was employed by Fabritz Hardware and Sears Roebuck in Oskaloosa following graduation. She joined Central United Methodist Church in 1936.
She married Henry Westercamp March 2, 1938, at her father's home. The couple farmed together throughout their married life. The first farm was near Barnes City, but as their family grew, they moved west of Oskaloosa and built a new home. It would eventually house five children, including two sets of twins.
The couple built a retirement home in 1974 and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the Far East. After Henry's death on December 18, 1974, Sylvia continued to travel and took great pleasure in her work with the Mahaska County Hospital Auxiliary and other local organizations.
Sylvia was a past president of the Mahaska County Farm Bureau Women, a long-time 4-H volunteer, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a past president of the Garfield Community Club.
She was a member of the Live Wires Sunday School class, which continued to meet annually over the past 70 years. She attended the Joy Sunday School class at UMC.
Sylvia co-authored the rural school section of the Mahaska County History Book and was a member of the Mahaska County Historical Society. She took great joy in reading and composing poetry, gardening and birdwatching. She loved to quilt and enjoyed her work with the UMC Piecemakers.
A staunch supporter of higher education, Sylvia was proud of her daughter who attended Central College in Pella, her four sons who graduated from Iowa State University and her many grandchildren who pursued college educations.
Syliva Grace Westercamp is survived by a daughter and her husband, Joan and Marvin Benscoter of Oskaloosa; three sons and their wives, Jerry and Diane Westercamp of Des Moines, Kenneth and Kathy Westercamp of Greenwood, Indiana, and Keith and Barb Westercamp of Cedar Rapids; a daughter-in-law, Linda Westercamp of Winfield; 14 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Beulah McVay of Montezuma, and Golda Nicholson and Dorothy Atchison, both of Oskaloosa; a brother, Ralph Scharff of Ottumwa; and a sister-in-law, Bonita Scharff of Ottumwa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry Westercamp; a son, Dr. Donald Henry Westercamp; an infant grandson, Christopher Westercamp; and two brothers, Donald Scharff and Leo Scharff.
Services for Sylvia Grace Westercamp was held in the Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa on Friday, March 20, 1998 at ten o'clock with the Rev. Howard Lord presiding. Interment: Graceland Cemetery in Pella, Iowa. (from Slyvia's funeral card)