Phoebe Erickson

Phoebe Geneva Erickson, 95, of Des Moines died on January 3, 2007 at Mercy Hospital of complications from pneumonia. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St. with burial at Rising Sun Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, and again from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral home.
Phoebe was born in Humeston, Iowa on June 29, 1911. She finished high school and received a “Teachers Certificate” after one year of college. She has lived in the Des Moines area for 76 years. She retired from Des Moines Health Center after 20 years. She loved being a volunteer at Des Moines General Hospital for many years. Time spent with family was very important to Phoebe. Phoebe’s spare time was devoted to crafts and her love to sew.
Survivors are her sons, Charles Walter (Beverly), Bernard Lee and Frank Eugene (Karen); daughter, Phoebe Joanne (Sammy) Parsons and daughter-in-law, Phyllis Erickson, all of the Des Moines area. Survivors also include, sisters, Odessa McSweeney of Ohio, Mary Leesekampe of Anamosa, Iowa and Jane Schnathorst of Des Moines; brothers, Ronnie Van Cleve of California and Vernon Van Cleve of Dubuque, Iowa; 21 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. Phoebe was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Walter; daughter, Shirley M. Wood, son, Ernest L. Erickson; granddaughter, Shelly Jo all of Des Moines; brothers, Joe Van Cleve of Davenport, Iowa and Jerry Van Cleve of Dubuque, Iowa; sisters, Shirley Nittler of Des Moines and Helen Smith of West Virginia.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of the Open Bible or Parkridge Care Center in Pleasant Hill.

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