A celebration of life will be held for Phyllis J. Van Berkum on Monday, February 6, 2023, 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Swea City, Iowa.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., at the church.
Phyllis will be laid to rest at a later date at Harrison Township Cemetery, Swea City.
Phyllis Jane Van Berkum, the daughter of Andrew and Marie (Schouten) De Jager was born on September 4, 1932 in Rock Valley, Iowa. She died on January 30, 2023 at the Valley Vue Care Center in Armstrong at the age of 90 years.
Phyllis attended country grade school and Rock Valley High School. She married Clifford Van Berkum on June 12, 1953 in Rock Valley, Iowa and to this union four children were born, Dennis Marc, Bruce Leigh, Laura Kae, and Todd Allyn.
Phyllis’s fist job was for Iowa Public Service in Rock Valley as a cashier and bookkeeper. She also worked retail for JC Penny in Fairmont, MN and the Coast to Coast store in Swea City. Phyllis volunteered to be a Brownie and Girl Scout leader when Laura was younger.
Phyllis was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Swea City. She held various positions including Financial and Church secretary, UMYF leader, UMW circle member, president and other offices in the local UMW. She was also the UMW Spencer District Treasurer.
She volunteered for many years as a contestant coordinator, secretary, and official chaperone for the Miss Kossuth-Winnebago Pageant Organization.
She is survived by her husband, Clifford; her sons Bruce (Mary) and Todd (Julie); grandchildren Ryan, Brian, Tyler, and Kaetlin; her siblings Wylma and Andrew Jr; and son-in-law Jim Hull.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her son Dennis, daughter Laura, sister Lois, brother Vern, and parents Andrew and Marie De Jager.
Online condolences may be left for Phyllis’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
