Phyllis Richardson, age 86, of Sac City, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2017, at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City, Iowa. Phyllis was born on April 20, 1931, to William and Clio (Gilley) Piper. She was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Lake City and graduated from the high school in Lake City in 1949. Phyllis completed her education in nursing in Marshalltown, Iowa.
On August 30, 1953, Phyllis married the love of her life, Alvin Richardson, at the Lake City Methodist Church. This union was blessed with four children: Joette, Colette, Daniel, and David. They made their home on the Richardson Century Family Farm south of Early. In 1996, Phyllis and Alvin moved to Sac City.
Phyllis worked as an LPN and pharmacy tech at Loring Hospital in Sac City for about 40 years. During the last ten years of working at Loring Hospital, she also worked part time at Park View Care Center. After retiring from the hospital, she continued to work at Park View Care Center until she retired two weeks before her 75th birthday, after she had received her Employee of the Year award. She was very proud of and enjoyed her nursing profession. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished her family and lived life to the fullest, always welcoming everyone with a warm greeting and smile. She was the best and loudest cheerleader at all her family’s sporting events. Phyllis was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Sac City and enjoyed being a part of the UMC Ladies Circle. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, Friendship Club, Retired Nurse’s Club, Hospital Auxiliary, and helped deliver Meals on Wheels until recently. She was also involved with the remodel at the senior center in Sac City. You could not plan anything with Phyllis on Thursdays as that was her day to help call Bingo at Park View Care Center, which she helped with for many years. Phyllis was hardworking, strong-willed, loving, and a great cook. She thoroughly enjoyed cooking big meals for her family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Joette Lein of Sacramento, CA; Colette (John) Sippel of Aurora, IL; Daniel (Sara) Richardson of Lake City; and David (Renee) Richardson of Glidden; her grandchildren: Jason (Holly) Wattier, Jocelyn (John) White, and Brian (Leah) Wattier; Jon Sippel, Michelle (Jose) Hernandez, and Matthew (Megan) Sippel; Danniele (Brock) Anderson, Kelan (Kelsie) Richardson, and Rylan Richardson; Kayla (Jesse) Schwanz and Michael (fiance Julia Collison) Richardson; great-grandchildren: Ella, Sophia, Madison, Thomas, Alexander, Colton, Carter, Nicolette, Olivia, Matthew, Liam, Brockelyn, Treyg, Kinley, and Knox (due in March). Other survivors include her sisters: Clarice Zenor of Lawton, IA/Fountain Hills, AZ, and JoAnn Zeller of Sun City, AZ; as well as many extended family members and friends.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, William and Clio Piper; her husband, Alvin Richardson; and her son-in-law, Ken Lein.
