Phyllis J. Persinger

Phyllis Janet (Collison) Persinger, 97, of Onawa, Iowa passed away Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Elmwood Care Center, Onawa, Iowa.

A funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Onawa United Methodist Church, Onawa, Iowa with Pastor Catie Newman and Pastor David Godwin, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Phyllis’ obituary. Burial will follow in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa. A visitation will be 5:00 P.M. -7:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 15, 2024 with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Goslar Funeral Chapel, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Phyllis Janet was born May 2, 1927 at home in rural Albaton, Iowa, the daughter of Alfred and Pauline (Downey) Collison. Phyllis graduated from Onawa High School in 1945.  She continued her education and graduated from Methodist School of Nursing, Sioux City, in 1948 (Now St. Luke’s School of Nursing).  The endowed Phyllis J. (Collison) Persinger Scholarship is presented each spring, and she enjoyed meeting the recipients.

She worked as a Registered Nurse at Burgess Memorial Hospital (surgical nurse and general duty), area nursing homes, and Western Iowa Tech Community College where she trained nursing assistants.

On August 27, 1950, she was united in marriage to Charles Chester Persinger at the First United Methodist Church of Onawa.  The couple farmed near Onawa. Charles and Phyllis had one son, Charles Edward Persinger.

Phyllis had many volunteer interests and was the recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 1996. She volunteered for: ISU Extension – 4-H Volunteer, Youth Committee, Discover 4-H Leader, Sheep Project Leader, Recipient of 4-H Alumni Member Award, 4-H Judge, and Shessler Hall advisory board member in Sioux City, Iowa.

She was a very active member of the Onawa United Methodist Church in Onawa, Iowa for over eighty years where she was involved with the Women of Faith, Circle Member, choir member, missions committee, Sunday school teacher, MYF leader, and past district officer for the United Methodist Church.

Phyllis was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as past Worthy Matron and past treasurer. She was past treasurer of the Onawa Women’s club, and past district treasurer and past county secretary for the Republican party. She served as den mother for the Cub Scouts, Girl Scout leader and was past mother advisor for Rainbow local chapter.

She is survived by her son, Charles Edward Persinger; sisters, Mary Barwick of Sioux City, Iowa, and Tina (Ron Beitz) Kuehl of Colorado; sister-in-law, Shirley Persinger of Onawa, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews, and longtime friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C. Persinger; parents, Alfred and Pauline (Downey) Collison; sisters, Norma (Andy) Andresen, Martha (Jerry) Werling; brothers, Paul (Connie) Collison, and Billy Collison; brothers-in-law, George Wight (Sharon Lamotta) Persinger, Eugene Harold Persinger, and Don Barwick.

Memorials in Phyllis’ memory may be directed to the Onawa Public Library and the Monona County Fair.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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