Sherrill Elaine Nelson Phelps

Sherrill Elaine Nelson Phelps, 72 of Fairfield, Iowa died Wednesday, November 23, 2016 surrounded by love. Sherrill married Jim Parkison and from that marriage a daughter Lori Parkison Striegel and a son Jeffrey Parkison were born. She later married D. Blake Phelps, Jr. and they laughed and loved together through 39 years of marriage.

Sherrill was born in Clarinda, Iowa on October 30, 1944 sharing the womb with her twin brother Merrill Duane; coming home to older brothers Darwin and Gary. Her brothers were very important to her and the Nelson home was a strong unit of love. She graduated from high school in 1963 and attended Iowa State as well as Iowa Western Community College.

In 1971, she moved to Fairfield, Iowa with two small children in tow to begin her new life. She was Mom and Dad rolled into one. She gave of herself continually to her family, her church and her community. She had a great love for painting, sewing, gardening, and cooking fabulous meals and no one has ever made better chicken and noodles!!

Sherrill traveled extensively with Blake. They both enjoyed card clubs and dinner clubs over the years and were avid bridge players. Growing up in the Nelson home, you had to know how to play bridge! Sherrill loved nothing more than to be outdoors, fishing was her passion. The Boundary Waters called her name for many years and spent many summers vacationing with family in their cabin oasis. This was her Heaven!

Left behind to honor her memory are Lori and husband Eric and children Samantha and Kevin; Jeff and wife Theresa and children Carly and Cortney; all of Swisher, Iowa. Brothers Gary (Evelyn) Nelson of Texas; Merrill (Barbara) Nelson of Minnesota; sister-in-law Georgia Nelson of Iowa; special cousins Roberta (Marvin) Reents and Jeanette Weakly, both of Iowa; her wonderful 101 year old aunt Helen Hess of Alabama; a special sister-friend, Anne Hansen Flyvholm (Mogens) of Denmark and many other treasured relatives.

Sherrill was preceded in death by her husband Blake Phelps, her parents Clifford and Maxine Nelson and brother Darwin Nelson.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Meadowview Memory Care Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for opening their arms with love and care for Mom as she progressed through the stages of dementia. A heartfelt thank you, as well, to Care Initiatives Hospice for guiding us, loving Mom, and caring for her as their own. Lastly thank you to Dr. Vincent Taeger and his wonderful nurses Natalie and Babs who gave their time freely in caring for Mom and our family even though remotely.

A visitation for Sherrill will be held 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Monday, November 28, 2016 at Behner Funeral Home, Fairfield, Iowa. Funeral services celebrating Sherrill’s life will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, Fairfield with Pastor Joseph Phipps officiating. After the service there will be a luncheon and burial will follow the luncheon at Vale Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church Fairfield, Care Initiatives Hospice or Meadowview Memory Care Village.