Phyllis Ann Dahlstrom
Phyllis Ann Dahlstrom
Phyllis Ann Dahlstrom
July 8, 1930 – June 30, 2015
Martinsburg, Iowa | Age 84
Phyllis Ann Dahlstrom, 84, of Martinsburg, died June 30, 2015. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her home. Phyllis was born on July 8, 1930 in Martinsburg to Donald and Elva (Reinier) Davis.
Phyllis attended school in Martinsburg, graduating in 1947. She then attained a teaching certificate from William Penn College and taught at the Prairie Home one-room school at Pekin until her marriage to Eric “Swede” Dahlstrom on January 13, 1949 in Yuma, Arizona.
Phyllis and Swede spent a few years in Arizona and Texas before returning to Martinsburg, where they operated the Hayesville Lumber Yard for many years. They purchased the lumber yard in Hedrick in 1977 and owned and operated the Big D Lumber Company until 1987. Together, Phyllis and Swede built a wonderful and memorable life raising seven children, one daughter and six sons.
Phyllis took great pride and joy in being a wife and mother, always providing encouragement, support and inspiration. She loved attending her children’s school and sporting events at Pekin High School. In her later years, as Grandma Dee Dee, she loved visiting her adult children and watching her grandchildren’s events.
All her life, Phyllis loved music and dancing and spent many a night attending dances throughout Iowa and Texas. Phyllis was a world traveler and for the past 25 years has traveled with her sister-in-law, Tereso Ternes. They have visited over 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. She was also a life-long dog lover; her current pet was a Pug named “Joey”. Phyllis was a member of the Martinsburg United Methodist Church and a 60-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Left to honor and remember her love are Phyllis’ seven children, twenty-one grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Daughter, Ericka (& Mark) Hendrickson of Macomb, Illinois and their children Myers, Davis and Georgie; son, Eric “Dub” (& Lisa) Dahlstrom of McKinney, Texas and their children Paris, Connor, and Gunnar; son, Shawn (& Jill) Dahlstrom of Packwood and their children Kooper and Shea; son, Shane “Blue” (& Twyla) Dahlstrom of Mt. Vernon and their children Elijah, Noah and Lily; son, Shad Dahlstrom of Mason City and his children Kelsey and Savannah and grandson Carson; son, Sage (& Molly) Dahlstrom of Coralville and their children Maggie, Paige and Sophie; and son, Sven (& Trisha) Dahlstrom of Martinsburg and their children Alec Stoner, and Makenzie, Sven II, Mason and Trison Dahlstrom. Phyllis is also survived by her sister Janet (& Brian) Breon of Hedrick; sister-in-law Tereso Ternes of Rogers, Arkansas; and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Swede, in 1985, and her parents.
Phyllis will be remembered for her impeccable style, her endless love of life, her quick smile and wit, and her spunk and love for adventure.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 3 at 1:00 pm at the Fremont Funeral Home with the Rev. Harlan “Frosty” Van Voorst officiating.
Burial will follow at the Mt. Zion Cemetery.
The family will greet friends from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 2 at the Fremont Funeral Home.
A memorial fund has been established in care of the Dahlstrom Family, P.O. Box 98, Martinsburg, Iowa 52568.
