Phifer, Elsie Elizabeth (Abrahams) (1935 - 2019)

PHIFER, ABRAHAMS, HEMMINGSEN, BARNETT, VENTRIS, SUHR

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 1/16/2020 at 16:35:02

Name of deceased: Elsie Elizabeth Phifer (nee Abrahams)

Aged: 84 yrs, 10 mo, 1 day

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Feb. 22, 1935; Utica, Seward County, NE

Died: Dec. 23, 2019; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Sons, Daniel (spouse, Deb) Phifer of Fremont, NE, David (spouse, Valerie) Phifer of Mannford, OK, Fred Phifer of Harlan, IA, Jeff Phifer of Lincoln, NE, and Michael Phifer of Council Bluffs, IA; daughters, Alice (spouse, Scott) Hemmingsen of Audubon, IA, and Hyla Ann (spouse, Robert) Barnett of Aurora, CO; sister, Gladys Ventris of Beemer, NE; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Herman Herbert and Sophia Maria Helena (nee Suhr) Abrahams; husband of 46 years, Charles Edward Phifer, Jr. (deceased April 16, 2002); brother, Norman Abrahams

Education: Raised in the Utica, Seward, and Fremont, NE, areas, she completed school through Grade 8.

Religious affiliation: Lutheran

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Charles Edward Phifer, Jr; March 24, 1956; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Blair, NE

Employment: While going to school, she helped her father farm and babysat. After leaving school, Elsie became a fulltime nanny. Later, she began working at the Robinson Seed Corn Company in Waterloo, NE. After she married, Elsie and Charles moved to Parks Air Force Base in Dublin, CA, where she nannied, ironed uniforms, and baked bread for servicemen and their families. They moved to Fremont, NE, and Elsie was employed at Head Start as an Aide and Parent Coordinator. She then became a stay-at-home mother and daycare provider. In 1995, the couple moved to Harlan, IA, and she worked at West Central Community Action, DHS, and the Senior Center until she retired in 2016.

Hobbies/Interests: Elsie was involved with the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC); was co-founder of the Pilot Parent Program; was a PTA member. She enjoyed gardening, especially her flower beds; also liked to can and bake, sharing much of her baked goods with neighbors.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; burmeisterjohannsen.com