Phyllis Rickels, 87, died Tuesday at the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon following an extended illness, with her family by her side.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 Friday morning, December 15, 2023 at the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello with interment in the Wayne Zion Cemetery.    Friends may call from 10:00 until 11:00 at the church on Friday.  Pastor Wade Reddy will officiate at the services.   Thoughts, Memories and Condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.   Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello has taken Phyllis and her family into their care.   Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Surviving are 3 children, Mike (Deb), Ranae (Scott) Rickels, Sue (Larry) Ehrisman, a daughter-in-law Donna, 9 grandchildren, Brandon, Nick, Kerri, Austin, Evan, Ethan, Kelsey, Thomas and Mallory, 8 great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Hudson, Cooper, Chase, Marlee, Paxtyn, Weston and Ryker Rex, her sisters, Betty Anderson, Doris Anderson, Marilyn Smith and Carol Grage.   She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rex, a son Mark in October of 2023, a sister Marge Schultz and a brother Gerald.

Phyllis Joann Achey was born September 23, 1936 at Bennett, Iowa.   She was the daughter of Fred and Ethyl Motz, Achey.   Phyllis graduated from the Tipton High School in 1954. Phyllis married Rex Rickels on January 8, 1956, at the Methodist Church in Tipton.  The couple farmed and then owned the Olin Corners restaurant.   Phyllis worked as a bookkeeper for Wears Implement, Franklin Equipment and for her son Mike at MWR Trucking.

Phyllis loved to grow flowers, feed the birds, take care of her grandchildren and bake amazing pies.