Phyllis Irene Hoberman

Phyllis I. Hoberman, age 88, of Storm Lake, Iowa slipped from this earth to the waiting arms of the husband she lost nearly 50 years ago, Saturday evening at North Lake Manor in Storm Lake, surrounded by family and friends who loved her. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will follow in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation will take place Monday, June 27, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Phyllis Irene Johnsen was born January 30, 1928 in rural Newell, Iowa the daughter of Harry P. and Elsie M. (Kladstrup) Johnsen. She was welcomed into the family by an older brother, Kenneth and they welcomed a brother, Keith a few years later. She was baptized and confirmed at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa, where she remained a lifelong member. Phyllis attended country school for four years, starting at the age of four, completing her education at the Newell School in Newell. One of her proudest accomplishments was being valedictorian of her graduating class and graduating with the highest grade point average to date for the school. She received a full ride academic scholarship to Buena Vista College, but was tired of studying so much and decided to work at Citizen’s 1st National Bank in Storm Lake. On September 26, 1948, Phyllis was united in marriage to Curtis Westergaard. Together, they were blessed with three children: Donna, John, and Wayne. While her children were in school, she decided to work at the Newell School so that her hours and dates of work would match theirs. Her husband, Curt, was killed in a traffic accident November 26, 1966. She continued to farm and work in the school until the following fall when she went back to work at Citizen’s, where she worked until her retirement. On October 15, 1977 she was united in marriage to Richard Hoberman in Newell, Iowa. While the marriage ended in divorce after 15 years, they remained friends. After she retired, he would drive over four to five times a week, usually hoping for a “project” at the house that would last through lunch. Phyllis was an excellent cook, and among her delicacies was her Danish yardstick, which was fabulous. Her children grew up enjoying her sweet pickles, that took two weeks to make, and great homemade jams and jellies. She maintained a huge garden as she raised her family, made sure there was always plenty to eat and that her dining room table was full of family on Sundays. Of course, there were all those chickens and ducks that had to be dressed every summer. This wasn’t a fun job, but her mother was often there to help. Despite having a husband, three very active children, a 90-pound Boxer, a very large garden, helping work the farm and a job outside the home, her house was always so clean you could have eaten off the floors. She always enjoyed sewing and embroidery, and made beautiful crewel and counted cross stitch pieces after moving to Storm Lake, many of those pieces are now with family members. When garage sales ended, word search, crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles were always in progress. Phyllis had a warped sense of humor. In her thirties, she dressed up for Halloween in a costume and mask and headed to town, where her husband was tending bar. She walked in, he didn’t recognize her and she took a flying leap into his arms. None of the patrons of the bar knew this stranger and it took her husband a minute to figure out that it was his wife. She learned later that her own mother had also dressed up in a costume and mask, and went trick or treating with one of her neighbors, at the same time she was enjoying the prank she played on her husband. One year for Halloween, she showed up for work at the bank dressed in prison stripes, complete with a matching hat and I.D. number on the top. She always tried to find something different to add to a Christmas gift. Whether it was the plastic woodpecker and large container of mixed nuts for the bird and nut lover in the family or the T-shirts that turned out to be Under Armour. She enjoyed singing songs she learned in grade school, most of which made her daughter cringe, especially when she sang them to her great-grandchildren. There was also a sweatshirt with “Head Gooser” that the bank presented to her upon retirement. That should require no explanation. You never wanted to bend over in front of her, she never quit pinching, even in the nursing home. There will never be another like her. In 2011, her health began to decline. After a short stay at the manor to recuperate from back surgery, she returned home for a couple of months, until she needed to make the move back there permanently in February. She tended the resident’s garden, loved her “apartment” there, all of the visitors she had and the staff that always joked with her and made her laugh. She could be counted on to speak up for anyone she felt needed extra attention and loved to have pizza brought in for her dining table group. She said she felt a little guilty that her birthday parties at the manor were always such a big deal, because some of the residents didn’t have family that would do that for them, but don’t stop. She always made sure to have cheese curls ready for her evening visitor, David, cash for a shopping trip to the grocery store or Walmart, and comfortable clothing for those great Sunday dinners that Wayne and Bobbie brought, or doughnut holes with John and Laurie. She is survived by a daughter, Donna (David) Stanton of Storm Lake, Iowa; sons, John (Laurie) Westergaard of Lake View, Iowa, and Wayne (Bobbie) Westergaard of Newell, Iowa; grandchildren: Rob (Brenda) Burditt and their children, Megan of Adel, Iowa and Alex of Aurelia, Iowa; Shanna (David) Rue and son, Devlin of Hartford, South Dakota; Cheri Erickson and sons, Ethan, Caleb, and Jacob of Johnston, Iowa; Curt (Shirley) Westergaard of Denison, Iowa; Chris Westergaard of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ben Westergaard of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Nicki Westergaard of Iowa City, Iowa; step-grandchildren, Krista Allen (Darrel Wenzel) of Waverly, Iowa and Mark Staiert of Des Moines, Iowa; brother, Kenneth (Wilma) Johnsen of Columbus, Ohio; nieces, nephews, cousins, the “village” at North Lake Manor and many others. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Elsie; husband, Curt Westergaard; brother, Keith Johnsen and his wife, Marian; grandsons, Kyle Burditt and Chance Westergaard; and in-laws, Kai and Elgin Westergaard. The family of Phyllis would like to thank the staff of North Lake Manor, who were wonderful caregivers and friends to her. This was never more evident than in her last days when staff came to tell her goodbye, one by one, giving her hugs and kisses, telling her how much they loved her and would miss her. As well as, Gentiva Hospice and hospice nurse, Tera. The family is quite sure that under their scrubs they have wings. They helped Phyllis so much and were such a comfort to her, and to all the family and friends. Thank you is not enough. The family is comforted with the certain knowledge that their mother is already “catching up” with those that predeceased her and smiling and dancing with her husband once again.

Phyllis Irene Hoberman

January 30, 1928 - June 25, 2016