Obituaries : Wilma Irene Linch Schellhase

Wilma Irene Linch Schellhase

Wilma Irene Linch Schellhase died at Wesley Acres Des Moines IA on Monday August 12, 2013.

Funeral Services for Wilma will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 East 6^th Street in Vinton with Rev. Dr. Judith Bunyi officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home on Saturday. Interment will be in Homer-Big Grove Cemetery near Garrison.   

Wilma was born August 23, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, daughter of Jesse Clark Linch and Mary Ann Thorington Linch.  The family moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in the spring of 1932 where they resided with her grandfather on a fruit farm northeast of Mt. Pleasant. She attended Pleasant Lawn Consolidated School and graduated in 1943, Salutatorian of her class.

She was employed by Henry County, Iowa as a Deputy County Auditor for several years before marrying State Trooper Lowell Edwin Schellhase in 1948 in Mt. Pleasant. They made their home in Ft. Madison, Iowa where Trooper Schellhase was stationed until 1952 when he was transferred to Mt. Pleasant.  Other moves were made to Denison, DeWitt, Cedar Falls, and Des Moines, Iowa before retiring in 1983 and moving to Vinton.  She was employed by the Mt. Pleasant Credit Bureau and temporary Deputy County Recorder during their years in Mt. Pleasant, by the Central Community School District in DeWittas secretary, At Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls as a secretary and was secretary for the State Fire Marshal in Des Moines. After retirement she was employed by Benton County Sheriff's Department.  Wilma was an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church and served as a member of the Altar Guild, the Music and Worship Committee and the Memorial Committee as well as being at member of Martha Circle.  She was also an active member of the Virginia Gay Hospital Volunteers - playing bingo with the residents and furnishing food for the various activities of the group.  She also served as Treasurer for Church Women United, Chairman and Treasurer for Martha Circle, and Treasurer for the Iowa Retired Peace Officers Association.

She took painting lessons from George Carberry until the time of his death and continued her interest in oil painting by teaching others to paint. She enjoyed playing the organ and playing cards as well as traveling.

Wilma moved to Des Moines in July 2004 and lived at Wesley Acres on Grand Avenue until the time of her death. 

She is survived by her daughter Karen Nantz (James) of Champaign IL, her son Lowell E. (Ed) Schellhase Jr (Doreen)of Norwalk IA, 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by special friends Paul & Carol Schellhase of Garrison IA, Don and Mary Schellhase of Traer IA, and special friend Kathleen Noe of Vinton, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell, in 1988; her parents, two sisters, a brother, grandparents and many aunts and uncles. 

A Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be sent at:  www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.