Wilma Doris (Rasmussen) Highland (1924-2011)

HIGHLAND, RASMUSSEN, SHELDAHL, TEVEPAUGH, MAXFIELD, DEROCHER, RIZZO, HANSON, GERLACH, MEAD, REISETTER

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/11/2012 at 22:00:46

From Chet Ryan Mortuary obituary, Nevada, Story County, Iowa:

Wilma Doris Highland
November 30, 1924 - September 21, 2011

Wilma Doris Highland, 86, formerly of Nevada and Ames, died on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at her Winter Haven, Florida home. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2012 in the Memorial Lutheran Church, 701 11th Street in Nevada with Pastor David Burling officiating. Burial of the cremains will take place in the Roland Cemetery.

Wilma was born on November 30, 1924 at the home of her paternal grandparents near rural Jewell to Carl and Cecile (Sheldahl) Rasmussen. She was baptized and confirmed in Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell. Wilma attended rural school in her early years and attended junior high school and senior high school in Ellsworth and Jewell. She graduated as Salutatorian from Jewell High School in 1942. After graduation she went to work with her mother at the defense plant in Ankeny where she was an inspector of shells for the Armed Forces. Wilma also sang at numerous weddings and other festivities. On December 31, 1943, Wilma was united in marriage to Olaf Highland at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell. To this union five children were born. Wilma was a farmer's wife and stay-at-home mom until the fall of 1959 when she went to work at R.H. Donnelley's (temporarily she thought) to earn enough money to register her children in school. She retired from Donnelley's 29 years later in 1988 to babysit her granddaughter Anna. In the early 1990's, Wilma enjoyed doing a morning paper route with her daughter Peg for a year. She became a "Foster Grandparent" in early 2004. Wilma started by volunteering at Kate Mitchell School in Ames from January to May when classes ended. She then transferred to Child Serve where she "rocked" babies (which she loved doing) from June 2004 until July 2011 when she moved to Florida. Wilma was a member of the Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, the Red Hat Society, and the American Business Women's Association.

Left to cherish her memory are two sons, Steven (Kathy) Highland of Nevada and Thor (Beth) Highland of Boone; 2 daughters, Kari (Lynn) Tevepaugh and Margaret (Peg) Highland, all of Winter Haven, FL; a daughter-in-law Julie Highland of Ft. Myers, FL; six grandchildren Staci (Rick) Maxfield, Melissa DeRocher, Kevin Highland and mate Paul Rizzo, Chad Highland, Joey (Jenny) Highland and Anna Highland; seven great-grandchildren Kelsey Maxfield, Austin Maxfield, Colton DeRocher, Kolbi DeRocher, Madi Highland, Eden Highland and Fisher Highland. Also left to cherish her memory are nieces and nephews Jeri Hanson and family, Gerri (Dwayne) Gerlach, David Rasmussen and his wife, Jim Mead, sister-in-law, Connie Mead, aunt Myrna Reisetter and multiple relatives and friends.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Olaf on December 14, 1970, a son Charley Highland on March 17, 1990, a brother Cleo Rasmussen, and a grandson Matthew Highland.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 24 with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Chet Ryan Mortuary, 708 Fifth Street in Nevada.

A memorial fund has been established in loving memory of Wilma.

Chet Ryan Mortuary in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Wilma and her family.

http://www.chetryanmortuary.com/
 

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