Phyllis Ann Gallagher Obituary (1927

Phyllis Ann Gallagher, 82, of Hazleton, Iowa entered into heaven on Friday evening, May 21, 2010 at Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein after a difficult battle with cancer. Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Hazleton, with Rev. Jason Princer officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Monday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment: Hazleton (Fontana) Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa. A Memorial Fund has been established for the Mercy Hospital Hospice Room. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com Phyllis Ann Sanborn was born on July 15, 1927 at home in Fairbank, Iowa, the daughter of Edward Byron & Florence Louise (Whitehead) Sanborn. (Stepfather: John Brown) She attended a one-room Amish School in Fairbank until 5th grade when her family moved to Hazleton and she became a member of the smallest class in the town's history with seven students. In high school, Phyllis worked for a telephone company at an old-fashioned switchboard. She attended secretary school in Cedar Rapids and worked for United Mutual Insurance. She later worked for the Oelwein Daily Register in classifieds, as a proofreader and later as a correspondent. Phyllis married James Donald Gallagher on April 24, 1949 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hazleton. They later settled into a home that became known in Hazleton as the big white house across from the schoolyard. Phyllis lived a vibrant, active life and enjoyed walking her special dog Patches many blocks each day. Phyllis loved serving on the Election Board and joining ladies in the neighborhood for coffee. Phyllis enjoyed RV traveling with her late husband, knitting, ceramics, baking, jigsaw puzzles and reading books by Debbie Macomber. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Phyllis will be remembered for her boundless energy with her great-grandchildren and the way she loved to follow them down the slides. Phyllis is survived by her 3 Sons: Jim (Mary) Gallagher of Oelwein, Mike (Elaine) Gallagher of Hazleton & Tom Gallagher of Cedar Falls; Daughter: Mary Ann (Steve) Baker of Westgate; 3 Grandchildren: Amy (Adam) Brase of Oronoco, Minnesota, Eric (Amy) Baker of Sumner & Krista (Jason) Gallagher-Colt of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 5 Great Grandchildren: Kalianna, Logan and Sadie Brase of Oronoco, Minnesota, Sydney & Jerica Baker of Sumner; Sister: Jane Staack of Oelwein & 2 Brothers: Dick (Pat) Sanborn of Olin and John (Connie) Sanborn of Oelwein. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, husband: James on October 16, 2001 and a sister: Margaret.