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Phyllis Marlene Franzen passed away Aug. 17, 2021, at the age of 85 in Des Moines.
Phyllis was the daughter of Marvin Franzen and Dorothy Chamberlin of Lovilia. Phyllis attended Lovilia High School where she was president of her senior class and graduated in 1954. After graduation, Phyllis worked for Maytag for 34 years and retired in 1989. Phyllis enjoyed basketball, football, was founder and president of the Jasper County Genealogical Society and was secretary and president of the Rock Creek Ikettes. She was also a dedicated avid Cyclones basketball fan. She was owner of Franz-son Assoc. (Shaklee) for many years. Phyllis installed a great love of music in her son Michael by taking him to KRNT theatre on many occasions. Phyllis kept great records on the family genealogy as far back as the 1600s in Scotland and updated the records while attending family reunions and ensured there were lots of pictures to go along with a detailed history of the family. Phyllis enjoyed traveling along the Morman trail and locating lost unkept grave sites which she cleaned up around and took images of the stones to be logged for history. She enjoyed her son Michael traveling along with her on these trips.
Phyllis was proceeded in death by parents Marvin Franzen and Dorothy Barton; and sister, Patricia Jean Davis. Survivors are son, Michael James Guffey (Mary LuAnn) Melcher; aunt, Donna Winburn of Grinnell; brother, Larry Franzen (Nancy) of Prairie City; sister, Judy McGinn (Terry Johnson) of Pleasant Hill; brother, Charles Barton (Wendy) of Three Forks, Mt.; Rick Barton (Ava) of Kellogg, Terry Franzen (Cheri) of Lovilia; brother-in-law, Tom Davis of Newton; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Special thanks to Cindy McNaul for all the time spent caring for and spending time with Phyllis to ensure all her needs were taken care of, Jeannie Garland for being there when the family needed you most and Jim and Kelly for always staying in touch with Phyllis and helping out.
A graveside service will be held at a later date for family and friends. Internment with be at Waveland Cemetery in Prairie City.