Phyllis Ketcham of Shenandoah, Iowa entered peacefully into eternal rest on May 7, 2024, at her residence in Homestead of Shenandoah, at the age of 93.

Phyllis Arlene (Darland) Ketcham was born on December 30, 1930, in Indian Creek Township, Mills County near Hastings, Iowa, the daughter of Don Leo and Florence May (Eacrett) Darland.

Phyllis was the youngest of seven children, having four sisters and two brothers. She grew up on a farm and vividly remembered the hardships during and after the great depression and the impact it had on her family and farm community. Her early education was in a rural one-room schoolhouse. She later attended Shenandoah High School where she was crowned homecoming queen as a freshman (her dad wouldn't let her attend the dance because he thought she was too young!) and graduated in 1949. After graduation, Phyllis worked as a secretary at the United Methodist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa.

On August 19, 1951, Phyllis married Robert (Bob) Leland Ketcham (also from Shenandoah) in Longmont, Colorado. Robert had recently enlisted with the United States Air Force (USAF) and was stationed in Denver. Raised in the Methodist church, Phyllis converted to Catholicism during their early marriage to faithfully unite in their Christian beliefs. They were blessed with 5 children from 1952-1965.

Phyllis had an adventurous life during their 27 years of USAF military assignments. They were stationed in Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Amarillo, TX; Wichita Falls, TX; Anchorage, AK; and overseas in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. They were stationed in some of those cities multiple times and moved residences 20 times during those years.

While Robert traveled extensively in the military, Phyllis managed a very busy life raising their 5 children. She supported them in numerous sporting activities, scouts, school, and volunteered at church. While living in Alaska, family weekends were spent in the woods camping and fishing. Phyllis always had their camper loaded and ready for adventures. She fed moose that wandered in their yard with a broom from their 2nd story deck! Phyllis was welcoming of many pets through the years but her favorite and most beloved was Pebbles, a little Toy Manchester Terrier, dragged home as a tiny puppy in the palm of her kids' hands in Alaska. She endured endless allergy shots for that dog!

In 1976, with Robert's retirement from the military approaching, they returned to their hometown of Shenandoah, Iowa. Phyllis was overjoyed to be back living close to family, friends, classmates, and most of all, her sisters, whom she had dearly missed.

Phyllis prided herself on keeping a very clean and organized home, cooking, baking, and gardening. She enjoyed working outside in the yard soaking up the sunshine. Phyllis loved bright colors and red was her absolute favorite. This was reflected in her choice of clothes, flowers, decorations, and even her cars! Christmas was her favorite holiday and she would bake for days. She was most proud of her beloved Ketcham Sugar Cookies which took endless hours to decorate and were enjoyed and loved by many. She cherished Christmas cards, especially those from all their military friends near and far.

Phyllis was very social and an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Ladies Guild, Shenandoah Hospital Auxiliary, Rural Willing Workers Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She loved playing cards (Pitch) and dominos with Robert's family. She became an avid reader after her children were grown and almost always had a book in her hands. Phyllis loved sports…especially college and professional football, and watched every game she could. She loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones (except...when they played the Hawkeyes!), Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys (where she once served Thanksgiving dinner on the tailgate of their station wagon at Texas Stadium).

Phyllis had the gift of conversation and since her children and grandchildren were her greatest pride, they often were the topic of her stories. She had an incredibly sharp memory down to the smallest details. Family and friends could always count on her when they needed to identify a photo or remember an occasion. She maintained this great gift her entire life.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 1994, son Daniel in 2018, grandson Jeremy in 2021, her parents, siblings, and many relatives and friends. After 30 years apart, Phyllis is anticipating a joyful heavenly reunion with her beloved Robert.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Kevin Ketcham of Shenandoah, Iowa; Michael Ketcham and wife Krista of Lake View, Iowa; Rich Ketcham and wife Jodi of Eldridge, Iowa; and Kathy Flagg and husband Mike of Milton, Georgia; and 15 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and countless nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Our family would like to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful staff at Homestead of Shenandoah and St. Croix Hospice for providing such loving care and compassion of our mom.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Phyllis's name directly to the Shenandoah Public Library who so kindly provided and delivered many books to our mom over the years. Books purchased with donations will have a memorial plaque inside the cover with her name. Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be mailed to Shenandoah Public Library Foundation, 201 S Elm St., Shenandoah, IA 51601 or online donations can be made via their website: www.shenandoah.lib.ia.us/foundation.html