Willer, Phyllis Anne (Kadel) 1926-2004
WILLER, KADEL, ELDER, HEGGEN, BENROTH, DEISER
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/8/2012 at 16:02:55
Phyllis A. Willer, age 77 of Decorah, died on Monday, May 17, 2004 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah of cancer.
Funeral Service is on Friday, May 21, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, IA by Rev. Carol A. Kress, with burial on Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 1:00 PM in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery in Tipton, IA.
Visitation is on Thursday, May 20, 2004 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Fjelstul Funeral Home and on Friday after 10:00 am at the church.
Phyllis Anne (Kadel) Willer was born on September 3, 1926 in her grandmother’s home in Oskaloosa, IA. She was the only child of Merle A. and Anna L. (Elder) Kadel. Phyllis lived in Sigourney, IA, Oskaloosa, IA, Anamoose, ND, Iowa City, IA and Wellman, IA as her father taught, attended medical school and then practiced medicine. At age 12 the family moved to Tipton, IA, where Phyllis graduated from Tipton High School in 1944. She was accepted at the Julliard School of Music but attended Northwestern University in Illinois and the University of Iowa, majoring in voice and music performance.
She was united in marriage with Wendell D. (Bud) Willer, the love of her life, on June 8, 1947 in Tipton, IA. To this union four children were born: W. Bruce, Craig, Marcia Ann and Stanley.
Phyllis and Bud lived in Dallas Center, IA, and then moved to Tipton, IA where Bud farmed and then worked in the lumberyard. The family also lived in Beaver Dam, WI. They spent the last 39 years in Decorah where Bud worked for Decorah State Bank. Phyllis worked at Luther College as a secretary and voice instructor and then as a teacher’s aide at West Side School. She is well remembered for her love of music and her beautiful singing voice, which she shared in a variety of ways with people in the communities in which she lived. She loved classical music and sang at weddings, funerals and a variety of functions.
Phyllis was a member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she sang in the choir for 39 years, and was active in Ruth Circle and other church activities. She was a past president of P.E.O, Chapter 60. She served on the Winneshiek County Cancer Board, American Heart Association and was Chairperson for Winneshiek County Memorials. Phyllis was a past member of the Aase Haugen Board and was an avid supporter of Community Concert, Dorian Opera and other music endeavors in the community and at Luther College. Phyllis was an active community volunteer and one of her favorite volunteer activities was arranging music programs for area nursing homes.
Phyllis will be remembered by her family and friends for her kind and loving spirit and for her gift of music.
Phyllis died Monday, May 17, 2004 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah at the age of 77 from cancer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wendell D. (Bud) Willer on April 23, 1993; and her son, Craig P. Willer on November 22, 1989.
She is survived by her 3 children: W. Bruce (Phyllis) Willer of Huron, S.D., Stanley R. (Beth) Willer of Des Moines, IA, and Marcia Ann (Charles) Heggen of Marshalltown, IA; her 10 grandchildren: Beth and Meg Willer, Zachary, Jordan, Adam and Trent Willer, Brian (Kristi) Willer, Ellie (Brock) Willer Benroth, and Andrew and James Heggen; 2 great-grandchildren: Lauren Benroth and Logan Willer; 1 step-great-granddaughter, Courtney Deiser; and her daughter-in-law, Joanne Willer of Fort Wayne, IN.
Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, P.E.O. or First United Methodist Church in Decorah.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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