DESENBERG, Phyllis A. (1928-2021)

DESENBERG

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/4/2022 at 12:41:37

Phyllis Ann Desenberg
(November 16, 1928 - September 29, 2021)

Phyllis A. Desenberg, 92, passed away suddenly of an aortic aneurysm on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. Phyllis was the youngest of 10 children raised on a farm in Churchville, Iowa. She loved and respected her large family and cherished the time with them throughout her life. Her family didn’t have a lot of money, but they never went without and always had enough to share with others. She was always so proud that her mom sold chickens and eggs to pay for her dance lessons. That investment in her early training was the beginning of a long professional career. It started with winning her first dance contest at 12 years old, touring the Midwest as a teenager, and then opening her own successful dance studio, where she performed and taught for over 40 years.
Phyllis married her high school sweetheart, Don Desenberg, 71 years ago. She said he was “the cutest boy and most talented drummer in school, but don’t tell him that!” In addition to raising 7 children and running her own business, Phyllis was very active in the community. She was passionate about her involvement with St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Sweet Adelines, acting as an election official for Warren County, serving as a City State Bank pie judge, and eager to support any organization that asked for her assistance for a good cause.
One career wasn’t enough for Phyllis. After a fulfilling dance career, she moved into high finance as a bank teller for City State Bank, which she did until she was 80 years old. She continued to bake treats for the monthly bank board meetings until the week before she passed. Throughout her life, Phyllis showed her love and care for others by cooking and feeding them great food.
Family and friends would describe Phyllis as: humorous, entertaining, playful, stylish, talented, optimistic, religious, cheater at cards, considerate, generous, compassionate, loved the shit out of babies, witty, hard worker, mistress of profanity, protective, dependable, teacher of humility, loving, never met a stranger, jokester, speed demon, word’s best traveler, charismatic, memorable and loved.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 71 years, Donald Desenberg; seven children, Dennis (Barbara) Desenberg, Mary Kay (Tim) Johnson, David Desenberg, Jan (Matt) Sparks, Maggie (John Weisser) Desenberg, Sally (Mark) Eggers, Amy (Brian Wines) Desenberg-Wines; eleven grandchildren, Christopher and Eric Johnson, Michael Sparks, Patrick Desenberg, Tyler Desenberg, Jessica Schaffer, Sam Eggers, Emma and Ellen Wines, Ivan and Paul Weisser; ten great-grandchildren, Drew, Will and Lydia Johnson; Ronin, Lincoln, Griffin and Fiona Sparks; Thomas Desenberg; Marley and Jameson Schaffer; sister, Honora Tovrea (101 years old); and a bounty of nieces, nephews and other family. Phyllis is preceded in death by her infant son, Michael; parents, Harry and Iva Hill; siblings, Leland Hill, Leopha Bell, Lowell Hill, Joe Hill, Robert Hill, Janette Miller, Harry Hill and Ralph Hill.
Memorials may be given in Phyllis’s name to the Norwalk Food Bank or St. John The Apostle Catholic Church (FYI – she would really like a brick, chair, bench, and a lectern with her name on it). This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/