Phyllis Joann Rodriguez 1930 - 2016

RODRIGUEZ, MASON, NELSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/12/2017 at 20:29:27

Sioux City Journal
4 January 2017

SIOUX CITY | Phyllis Joann Rodriguez, 86, of Sioux City, passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at home.

Memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Private burial will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Phyllis was born on Oct. 10, 1930, in Gruver, Iowa, the daughter of Nolan and Leta Jenny (Mason) Nelson. She attended Estherville (Iowa) School. Upon graduating, she went on to receive her RN degree from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Sioux City. She was a charge nurse in urology at St. Joseph Hospital and finished out her 42-year nursing career working in the Renal Dialysis Department at Marian Health Center, now known as Mercy. She retired at the age of 62.

She married the love of her life, Eli Rodriguez, on April 21, 1953, and they were married 50-plus years. They had five children.

They were true lovers of sports -- college football, fast pitch softball and swimming -- but their greatest joys were watching their beloved Iowa Hawkeyes football and wrestling teams and track and field. They attended more than 40 Drake Relays. They were season ticket holders for both Iowa football and wrestling for many years. They also love to watch both the women's and men's basketball teams. Prior to losing most of her eyesight, our mother's personal passion was reading.

Thank you to her sister, Maxine, for her wonderful caring support, and thank you to Jeremy at the North End Zone bar for the love and special treatment shown to our mother. She loved going there to see the boys and to enjoy a cold one.

Phyllis is survived by her three sons, Steve (Suzann), Joe (JoAnn), and Michael, all from Sioux City; two daughters, Kathy of Sioux City, and Julie (Clinton) of Spencer, Iowa; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Judy of Mesa, Ariz., and Maxine of Sioux City; one brother, David of Ankeny, Iowa; and her beloved dog, Sammy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eli; her parents; and two brothers, Allan and Nolan Nelson.

Our last thank you is for the finest people one could ever know. Our uncle, Vincent, and aunt, Lee Rodriguez, and their entire family in Des Moines. Words can never express how thankful we are for their love and support.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Noah's Hope, a dog rescue organization in Sioux City or to Hospice of Siouxland.