Phyllis Chambers (Goschke) Obituary (2018)

Phyllis Elaine Chambers, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center, at the age of 90, thus completed a long and fulfilling life. Along this journey she made a gentle impact on many lives. A visitation will begin at 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at the Eddyville Funeral Chapel in Eddyville. Phyllis' family will be greeting friends from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. A funeral service for Phyllis will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at the First Christian Church in Eddyville, with Pastor Richard Grimes officiating. Burial will follow the service at Henness Cemetery in rural Mahaska County. Phyllis was born on December 13, 1927 in Eddyville, Iowa, to Amil "Fred" and Maude (Belzer) Goschke. She was raised in Eddyville and graduated from Eddyville High School, Class of 1946. Following high school, Phyllis attended the Ottumwa Beauty Academy. Over the years her role in life changed many times. Early on she was a beautician and owned and operated a beauty shop in downtown Eddyville. It was during this time when Phyllis met the man she would marry, Glen Chambers, who arrived in town after WW II. Phyllis and Glen were married on August 2, 1948. After their first son, Brian, was born she became a housewife and mother. Another son, Eric, would follow four years later. Over time Phyllis became, what was called then, a babysitter, where over the years she shepherded dozens of children to and from school and through the early years of life. Her last, and to some most memorable role, was that of paper carrier, delivering the Des Moines Register and later the Ottumwa Courier, a responsibility she began in the early 1980's and continued with until her retirement last year, at the age of 89. Phyllis was a life long member of the First Christian Church in Eddyville. She was also an over 50 year Alumni member of the Eddyville High School. Phyllis is survived by her sons, Brian (Dee) Chambers of Eddyville and Eric (Cheryl) Chambers of Albia; grandchildren, Nathan (Izzy) Chambers of Oskaloosa, Natalie (Eric) Donovan of Gallatin, TN, Logan (Toni) Chambers of Eddyville, Mallory (Alex) Stocker of Albia, Rachel (Chris) Prewitt of Brashear, MO and Mercedes "Sadie" (Eric) Chambers of Alexandria, VA; and four great grandchildren, Jackson, Oscar, Chloe, and Dexter, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Amil and Maude Goschke; her husband of 46 years, Glen; one brother, Gene; and two sisters, Gladys Katko and Clarice Stoos; and one grandson, Buck Chambers. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Christian Church, in Eddyville, Iowa.