Phyllis Gehrels

PHYLLIS MAXINE GEHRELS was born to John and Anna (Rath) Arp on January 23, 1921 in Elmer Township of Pipestone County, Minnesota where she was raised on the family farm. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trosky, Minnesota. She attended country school in District #54, and she attended high school in Trosky and then in Edgerton, Minnesota. Upon completion of her education, she did housework for area families. On July 12, 1941, Phyllis was united in marriage to John Gehrels in Edgerton. Following their marriage, they farmed John’s family farm in Gray Township. In 1965, they purchased a farm with John’s brother, George, and continued farming there until John’s retirement in 1981. In December, 1981, they moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. John preceded her in death on November 11, 1996. After his death, Phyllis resided in Pipestone until September, 2000 when she moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa to be near her daughter. In the fall of 2012, Phyllis moved into Regency Rehab in Council Bluffs and passed away there on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the age of 94 years, 1 month, and 13 days.

Phyllis was a charter member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Pipestone where she had been an active member of the Guild. She held several offices in the Guild, and she helped organize their mission quilting project. At the time of her death, Phyllis was a member of Timothy Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs. In her younger years, she enjoyed being a 4-H sewing leader. Phyllis also sewed clothing for many people, but embroidery and quilting were her passions. She was especially fond of sewing and embroidering tea towels which she donated for fundraisers at both Our Saviour's and Timothy.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Deanna Wentzel and her husband John of Council Bluffs, Iowa; two grandchildren, Dawn Nolan and her husband David of Cresco, Iowa and Jason Wentzel of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and four great-grandchildren, Dallas, Autumn, Madison, and Sean. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one brother, Myron Arp; and two sisters, Lois Veenhof and Lorraine Staeffler.