Phyllis Emma Schwab

Phyllis Emma Schwab, the daughter of Elmer and Emma (Wedemeyer) Byrum, was born April 21, 1931, at her parents’ home east of Adair, Iowa and died January 26, 2016, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 84 years, 9 months, and 5 days.
Phyllis was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair, Iowa. She attended Casey Community Schools then graduated from the Adair High School with the Class of 1949. Following graduation, Phyllis helped on the family farm.
On July 23, 1952, she was united in marriage to Marvin “Jack” Leroy Schwab at the Immanuel Lutheran church in Adair. They were blessed with four children, twins Dennis and Dean, Donna, and Debra. Jack was inducted into the U.S. Army. During the time he was in the service Phyllis was employed at Woolworth’s in Atlantic, Iowa where she was the Candy Counter Girl and roasted nuts and sold candy. When Jack was honorably discharged from the service they moved onto and lived on the family farm south of Brayton, Iowa. They grew row crops and raised livestock. Phyllis worked alongside Jack operating the farm. In 1974 they moved into Brayton. Phyllis still helped with the farming going after parts and helping whenever she was needed. Phyllis and Jack enjoyed traveling around the United States and overseas. Later they enjoyed their winters in Arizona. Jack died January 16, 2004. Phyllis lived in Brayton then moved to the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa in August of 2008.
Phyllis was a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. Phyllis loved to play cards with the Sunday night card group in Brayton. Phyllis liked to work with her hands and kept busy making all types of crafts. She especially liked quilting and made many quilts over the years.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Marvin “Jack” Schwab; were her parents; her brother-in-law Lloyd Mertes and several other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Survivors include her children Dennis and wife Jeanne Schwab of Audubon, Iowa, Dean and wife Carol Schwab of Brayton, Iowa, Donna and husband Winston Hoegh and Debra and husband Lee Butler all of Atlantic, Iowa; 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; her sisters Alice Mertes of Griswold, Iowa and Catherine and husband Virgil Koob of Anita, Iowa; her brother-in-law Emmert Paulsen of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Andrew Butler, Allen Butler, Brian Schwab, Peter Schwab, Alec Paulsen, Kevin Tepoel, and Fred Muhr. The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, January 31, 2016, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.