Phyllis Holland

Phyllis Arlene Holland, 69, of Grundy Center, passed away at the Grundy County Long Term Care Unit after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 16th, at the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center with Pastor Jerry R. Miller presiding. Engelkes-Ables Funeral Home is caring for Phyllis and her family. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Phyllis Arlene Holland was born to her parents Hozel and Bertha Holland (Hoge) in rural Linn County, IA on April 19, 1948. Phyllis attended school in Central City, Iowa graduating with the class of 1966. Phyllis went on to attend junior college in Marhsalltown, IA and later transferred to Iowa State University where she received her masters in political science.

Phyllis held a few different jobs in her life but most notably, she was an office manager for AKleen in Grundy Center and she also traveled to Taiwan to teach English. Phyllis was passionate about supporting the library and campaigning for the democratic party on the local, state, and national level.  Phyllis loved the French language and was also fluent in it. She was a member of the Jordan Grove Church. In Phyllis’s free time she enjoyed reading and completing puzzles.

Phyllis is survived by her children Cyrus (Alyssa) Thomas of Grundy Center, Tyler Thomas of Grundy Center, and Trace (Lauren) Thomas of Washington State; sisters Anita (Gerald) Silver of Central City, IA and Roberta (Ed) Hoffman of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother Tom (Minnie) Holland of Whitter, IA; grandchildren Astrid Elywnn Thomas and Emily May Thomas. She is preceded in death by her parents.