Gries, Phyllis, E. 1917-2007

GRIES, WARD, FITZPATRICK, SAUNDERS, BECKER

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/4/2008 at 09:56:05

KINGSLEY, Iowa -- Phyllis E. Gries, 90, of Kingsley passed away Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007, at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Kingsley, with the Rev. Duane Miesner officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hinton, Iowa. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Rohde-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

Phyllis Eleanor Gries was born Dec. 2, 1917, on the family farm near Kingsley, to Bert and Eleanor (Fitzpatrick) Ward. She attended country school near her home and later graduated from Hinton (Iowa) High School. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Hinton in May 1939.

On Sept. 28, 1939, she and Dwight Saunders were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on a farm near Kingsley. Along with caring for her family, she assisted Dwight with farming. After her children were raised, she went to work at St. Joseph's Hospital in Sioux City as a nurse's aide. In 1965, she transferred to the Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center and worked there until her retirement in 1980. Dwight passed away April 25, 1970. She moved to Kingsley for her retirement years.

In June 1975, she married Robert Becker at First Lutheran Church in Kingsley. Robert passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in June 1978. In June 1980, she married Harry Gries at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa. The couple enjoyed spending winters in Arizona until Harry's health declined. They also enjoyed playing cards. Harry passed away in June 2001. She continued living at the Kingston Apartments in Kingsley until becoming a resident at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center on Dec. 29, 2006.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Roger (Sophie) Saunders of Peoria, Ariz., Diane (Charlie) Reinking of Kingsley and Linda (Stan) Jaacks of Scottsdale, Ariz.; eight grandchildren, Jeff (Molly) Reinking, Kevin (Susan) Reinking, Kim (Jay) Juelfs, Jill (Kyle) Bobolz, Michelle (Simon) Billingham, Troy Saunders, Dwight (Ruth) Saunders and Yvonne (Rick) Obbink; a stepgranddaughter, Kethia Saunders; 16 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Genie Saunders of Branson, Mo.; stepchildren, Janet (Carl) Toben of Ida Grove, Iowa, Glenda Easton of Akron, Iowa, Jim (Janice) Gries of Lawton, Iowa, Terry (Virginia) Gries of Merrill, Iowa, Tom (Margean) Gries of Perry, Iowa, Becky (Jess) Blum of Sioux City, Bob (Marlene) Gries of Sioux City and Beth Ann (Paul) Orr of Sioux City; numerous stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren in Harry's family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands; two sons, Doug and Tommy Saunders; and a daughter-in-law, Carol Saunders.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Dec. 28, 2007