PHYLLIS A. ESTLUND

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 6, 2018 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and then 10:30 a.m. a Mass of Christian Burial will be at Corpus Christi Church. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Tom Estlund of Fort Dodge; children, Tim(Linda) Estlund of Cedar Rapids; Becky (Randy) Theesfield of Bloomington, MN; Steve (Cary) Estlund of Twin Lakes; Debby (Pat) Lynch of Buffalo, WY; Jane Estlund of Des Moines; Christine (Todd) Pletcher of Newton; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Anderson; Carrol Jean Sandholm both of Boone, and Beverly Field of Fort Dodge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Emma Estella (Joselyn) Wise.

Phyllis Ann Wise was born on August 24, 1926 in Barnum. She was raised and educated in Barnum and graduated from Johnson Township Consolidated Schools in 1944. On May 15, 1948, Phyllis was united in marriage to Thomas Estlund, and the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year. The couple lived in various towns in Iowa while Tom worked for Standard Oil/Amoco. In 1962 the couple returned to Fort Dodge and established their home. Phyllis taught school at Johnson Township Consolidated Schools for several years and was a para-educator for the Fort Dodge Community School District as well. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church.

For over 70 years, Phyllis and Tom have built their life together, and their love and devotion to one another have been the foundation upon which their family has grown.

Phyllis’ love for teaching and for children runs in the family, and many of her children and grandchildren have followed in her footsteps by becoming educators as well.

Phyllis was an avid knitter and loved crocheting. Her famous afghans and baby booties were loved and treasured by all her family members. As wonderful as her handiwork was, Phyllis’s talent in the kitchen was out of this world and she loved to prepare amazing family feasts. Her holiday meals were eagerly anticipated with such favorites as her delicious “cabin bars”, bran muffins, peanut brittle, cheesy potatoes, hot cheese sandwiches, and cinnamon rolls. She would spend hours in the kitchen and the house would be filled with mouthwatering aromas, the sound of her beautiful singing voice, and the happy chatter of her beloved grandkids and great-grandkids. They all had so much love for her and will dearly miss their very special grandma.

Memorials may be left to family discretion.