Viola May Sims

Viola M. Sims, 82, of Oelwein, Iowa died on Sunday morning, January 20, 2013 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, Iowa.

Funeral Services: 12 Noon on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa with Rev. Tim Schoepf officiating.
Visitation: 10:00 A.M. to service time on Thursday at the funeral home.
Inurnment: At a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, Iowa.

A Memorial Fund has been established in her name.

Viola May (Ohl) Sims was born March 1, 1930 to Lavon (Briggman) and Albert Ohl, on the old Tom Powell Farm, near Winthrop, Iowa. Weighing only 3 pounds at birth, she was kept in a shoe box near the kitchen cook stove to keep warm. Vi attended a one room school house near Winthrop. She also attended Parkside School in Oelwein, Iowa then public school in Tucson, Arizona. She had fond memories of rural farm life. She often spoke of wading and swimming in nearby Buffalo Creek. Even as she got older, Vi loved to soak her feet in a cool stream. Of course, farm life was not all fun and games. She learned how to work hard and proved it when she made a bet with a relative. She bet that she could hitch up a team of 4 work horses. Vi won that bet. Everyone was so impressed, a cow was named, Viola, in her honor. In later years, Viola was a well known member of the community. She served on the Oelwein City Council and was an active member of nearly every club or group in Oelwein. She loved Genealogy and even wrote a book on the "Ohl Family History." She married Glen A. Sims, October 3, 1946 at the "Old Sims Homestead", in Bloomington, Illinois. They moved to Oelwein, Iowa in 1947. Glen got a job at John Deeres Company in Waterloo, Iowa. Glen Sims and Albert Ohl built a small house on 13th Ave South West. Vi and Glen lived there until Glen built "Viola's" dream house across from the Parkside School in Oelwein. Vi lived there until her passing.

Vi is survived by 3 children, Barbara J. (Gerald) Hamilton, Marshalltown, Iowa, Robert Glen (Gail) Sims, Guttenberg, Iowa and Steven (Doris) Sims, Oelwein, Iowa. They have 6 grandchildren: Monica (Ron) Hamilton Davis, Marshalltown, Iowa, Robert Glen (Christine) Sims, Decorah, Iowa, Joanna (Brad) Hamilton Weir, Gilman, Iowa. Benjamin (Heather) Sims, Atkins, Iowa, Timothy (Stacey) Garrigus, Omaha, NE, and Melissa Sims, Oelwein, Iowa. 11 great grandchildren (# 12 to be born in March): Cole Harre, Gilman, Iowa; Drake Davis, Marshalltown, Iowa; Emellia, Cameren, Kai and Elyse Sims of Decorah, Iowa, Brandon and Carlie Sims Atkins, Iowa, Sharalene and Hope Garrigus, and Nick Walker. She also has a brother James Ohl, Elkader, Iowa

Preceded in death by: her husband Glen, her mother LaVon Briggman Ohl Campbell, father Albert Ohl, Sister-in-law Crystella Ohl, nephew Kevin Ohl and a half sister Janey Ohl.