Phyllis Sponsler, 84, of Griswold, Iowa passed away July 28, 2019, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

Phyllis Marie Sponsler knew how to delight in beauty. She knew how to find it like treasure -- afternoon baking sessions for a church event, harvesting her best lilies so the blooms would decorate the breakfast table, and always being ready with soup and a homemade french loaf for whomever might walk in that side door at 712 North Street.

Phyllis was born November 30, 1934 to Laurel Coy Roof and Mabel Marie Metz Roof in Osceola, Iowa. She attended Garden Grove School, Green Bay Country School and graduated from Humeston Public School as the Valedictorian. She married Joe Sponsler at age 19 and they had two children, Cynthia Lynn and Joe Mark.

She held positions from 1953 to 2000 at Bankers Life, Iowa Highway Commission, Mormon Trail School, Apartment Building Manager, and Manager at the Econo Lodge. Retirement for Phyllis really just meant that she was more available to offer her time and energy to grandkids, neighbors, church, community, and gardening. She was active as a VISTA volunteer, American Legion Auxiliary, Church Women United, in Griswold Optimist (where her jellies were prized items at the yearly auctions), and as a member of Central Church of Christ in Griswold. She was baptized at Central Church of Christ in Griswold at age 79 as an outward expression of her inward commitment to Christ. She enjoyed her church community, life group, and supporting the youth who went on to do mission work.

She drove a van for Griswold Community School and later worked for the new Tiger Mart to fund her generosity for family, missionaries, and neighbors. She loved being able to give homemade cookies, deliver hand crocheted hot pads, and share the beauty of her garden. She loved to take you by the hand and walk through the berms and beds in their corner lot, quietly smiling and delighting that she was a part of making this beauty she then got to share. Dahlias and irises, daisies and gladiolas, there was not a flower in the seed catalog that Phyllis Sponsler could not coax into its most beautiful expression.

She loved to support family and revelled in their accomplishments as if their successes were her very own. To be in her presence - in her favorite spot on the back porch swing, at the stage after a performance, or beside her as she made tables full of holiday treats - was encouragement you could almost touch. She delighted to be with you - to hear the long version of all your stories, to write down your prayer requests in her perfect cursive script, to hold your face in her palms so she could smile at your soul.

She joins her great grandson Isaac and grandson William Nichols in glory and is survived earthside by her husband of 64 ½ years, Joe; children, Joe Mark Sponsler, Cindy and husband Dick Nichols; grandkids, Sam and Bethany Nichols, Christina Nichols, Caroline and Patrick Kolts, James and Carly Nichols, Grace Baker, Olivia Sponsler, and Joe Reed Sponsler; great-grandkids, Natalie, Levi, Joel, Zella, Wren, Foster, and a baby due January 2020.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold with Pastor Tony Brandt officiating. Burial will be held in the Griswold Cemetery at a later date. The family will greet friends on Friday, August 2, 2019 from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold. Memorials are preferred to the Central Church of Christ Building Fund. The Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is in charge of arrangements.