Phyllis Dolores Simonsen
January 04, 2015
Phyllis Dolores Simonsen, 85, was born on December 3, 1929, in Emmetsburg, IA to Neely and Marie Kay and four older siblings, and passed from this earth on January 4, 2015.
Dolores always had a song in her heart and was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. She also played clarinet and was the drum major of the Emmetsburg High School marching band, graduating in 1947. She attended MacMurray College in Illinois, returning to Iowa in 1949 to work at John Deere Ankeny. She met, then married the love of her life Clarence Simonsen on May 6, 1950, residing in Des Moines, IA.
Dolores was a dedicated mother and active in her church. She re-entered the workforce in 1971 and was a long-time employee of Brenton Banks. Dolores is survived by two children, Lisa (Matt) Castillo and Dana (Linda) Simonsen; 3 grandsons and 1 step-granddaughter; 2 great-granddaughters, 2 great-grandsons, and one step-great granddaughter; 2 sisters, 1 brother, and many nieces and nephews. Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years, and a brother.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2015, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive visitors Friday morning at the funeral home beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Stephanie Zimmer Toigo
01/09/2015
Lisa and Dana, I was so very fond of your mom. She was always so much fun and took me on my 1st roller-coaster ride. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Your mom will be greatly missed.
Mary Ann Coons
01/09/2015
Lisa and Dana,
I was so sad to hear that your mom passed away. My husband, Bob, enjoyed working with Phyllis and the other ladies - Doris and Marilyn. We all became very good friends and visited with all of them as much as we could after moving back to Indiana in 1988. Your mom was such a joy to be around; she had a great laugh and outlook on life. And she was a great cook and we had many wonderful meals that she had prepared. She was proud of her family and would share great stories about all of you. I still remember when Derrick - I believe - accompanied them on a trip to Kansas City after we moved there and we went to Strouds for dinner. He was really happy that they fixed him a "kiddie" drink. Great friends, great memories and I will miss talking to her. I'm thinking of all of you as you go through this difficult time of losing your mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be missed.
Chrissy, Brenda & Janell
01/07/2015
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and we send you strength. Love from all of us.....