Phyllis J. Wedemeier, 79, of Sumner, died Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at St. John Lutheran Church-Spring Fountain of rural Sumner with Rev. George Volkert officiating.  Interment will be at Lutheran Cemetery of Sumner Township. Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 4, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding the services on Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated to a charity of their choice at a later date. 

Phyllis Jean, daughter of Earl and Leta Meyer was born June 18, 1937, and baptized that same day by Rev. Martin Kleinau at the family home near Sumner.  She received her education at the parochial school at St. John Lutheran Church-Spring Fountain, and was confirmed there on March 18, 1951, by Rev. Edmund Weiss. On February 20, 1955, she was united in marriage with Duane Wedemeier at St. John Lutheran Church-Spring Fountain with Rev. Martin Sonntag presiding. The couple farmed for many years in the Sumner area. Phyllis was a long time member of St. John Lutheran Church-Spring Fountain. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and in the last few years enjoyed playing cards and bingo.

She is survived by her three sons, Rodney (Marlene) Wedemeier of Sumner, Jeff (Bobbie Jo) Wedemeier of Westgate, and Brian (Jennifer) Wedemeier of Palo; two daughters, Rhonda (Mike) Kerns of Oelwein and Jennie (Bob) Tranbarger of Sumner; eight grandchildren, Wendy (Eric) Jones, Kimberly Bearbower, Alex and Jalen Tranbarger, Emma, Hana, Elle, and Abby Wedemeier; five great-grandchildren, Gracie, Tate, and Maggie Jones, Paige and Kobe Bearbower; four siblings, Mardell Brase of New Hampton, Dale (Mary Lu) Meyer of Plainfield, Gladys Bergman of Clarksville, and Wendall (Lois) Meyer of Northwood; two brothers-in-law, Willard (Verla) Wedemeier of Waterloo and Roger (Elaine) Wedemeier of Sumner; and one sister-in-law, Mary Lou Blaschke of Sumner.

In addition to her husband, Duane, who died January 1, 2001, she was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren, Jodi Wedemeier and Travis Chapman, who died in infancy; a brother, Ernie Meyer ; four brothers-in-law, Roger Bergman, Edgar Brase, Romaine Wedemeier, and Orville Blaschke; and a sister-in-law, Mary Lee Meyer.