Cover photo for Phyllis J. Graham's Obituary
Phyllis J. Graham Profile Photo
1921 Phyllis 2017

Phyllis J. Graham

June 30, 1921 — October 18, 2017

Phyllis Graham, age 96, of Spencer and Lake Park Iowa, died October 18, 2017 at Mable Rose Estates in Papillion, Nebraska.

Phyllis was born in Middle Inlet, WI on June 30, 1921 to Keith Eninger and Rose Svec Eninger. She spent her first seven years in a house in the woods built by her father, and then moved, with her parents and brothers, to a farm near Spencer IA. She graduated from Spencer High School in 1938 and from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa in 1942 with a major in music.

Phyllis taught English and music at Sulphur Springs and Excelsior, Iowa from 1942 - 1946. She married Ronald Austin Graham on March 3, 1946. Together, they nurtured and raised their children, Ronnette Lynn and Randolph Bryce.

Phyllis passed along her love of music to many piano students and her family. In the 1960s she did post-graduate work at Mankato State College in library science and was the school librarian at Lake Park High School and Harris and Excelsior Elementary Schools from 1967 until 1971. For sixty years she was a committed member of the Lake Park United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School played the organ, sang in the choir and was active in the United Methodist Women.

She loved to garden and was especially fond of irismany drove by their home to see the blooms. She also enjoyed arranging flowers, and giving them away. She made delicious cinnamon rolls and during each Christmas season would fashion them into Christmas trees and deliver them, along with a kind word and a friendly visit to those who were not able to get out. She was a dedicated wife, a kind mother, and a proud grandmother.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Ron and brother Bob, and is survived by brother Harold Eninger (Jean), and sister-in-law Wanda Eninger, all of Spencer; daughter Ronnette (Randall) of Bellevue, NE; son Randy (Kathy) of Afton, MN, four grandchildrenAaron Sailors (Cheri), Sherrine Fossler (Eddie), Mike Graham (Libby) and Madeline Graham (Josh) and five great-grandchildrenDaphne, Elise and Gwen Fossler, and Louie and George Graham.

Services Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park, Iowa. Please direct memorials to the Lake Park United Methodist Church, 1471 135th Ave, Lake Park IA 51347.

Funeral Home:
Chapel of Memories
9001 Arbor Street #111
Omaha, NE
United States 68124

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Saturday, July 29, 2023

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