Phyllis Marie Dettmann

Phyllis Marie Dettmann, 92, of Monona, Iowa passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024. She was born in 1932 in Luana, Iowa to parents Willis and Selma Lamker. She attended Luana public school and graduated from Monona High School (1949) and Iowa State Teachers College (n/k/a University of Northern Iowa) (1951) in Cedar Falls, Iowa receiving a Kindergarten/Primary Teaching Certificate.

She subsequently taught First Grade in Coggon, Iowa and Kindergarten in Luana, Iowa and later in life was a preschool teacher at the Monona Preschool. In addition to her full time occupation as a farmer with her husband and mother to their five children, Phyllis was very active in her community including teaching Sunday School for many years and serving as President of the church council at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Phyllis also served as both President of the MFL Booster Club and as a Club Leader for the Giard Eager Hands 4-H Club (20 years). She was also active in WELCA as Chairman of Mission Action. In 1988, Phyllis was chosen to be Iowa Mother-of-the-Year. In her spare time, Phyllis invested countless hours involved in sewing, crocheting, quilting, and embroidery projects for family, friends, and those in need. She was very much a self-proclaimed “Fabricologist.”

Phyllis was united in marriage to Lorin H. Dettmann in August 1953 and they were married for 60 years until Lorin’s death in 2013. They raised their five children on the family farm in Monona, Iowa.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one son-in-law.

Phyllis is survived by her five children: Karen (Jim), Barbara, Darla (Jim), Brian (Kelly), and Sara (Don), her sister, Rachel, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and nine nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Monona Rural Fire Department or St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa.

A visitation will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa from 4-6pm on Friday, August 16, 2024 and one hour prior to the funeral. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 11am on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The funeral service will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@stpaulmononaia/featured

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Monona, Iowa is assisting the family with services.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

Click here to visit the Leonard-Grau Funeral Home website.