DICKENS — Phyllis Ann Krukow, 97, of Dickens, a devoted mother and grandmother, former school cook and award-winning community volunteer whose generous spirit touched generations of Iowa families, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Ruthven Care Center.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 16, at 11 a.m. at Geelan Funeral Home, 403 11th Street SE, in Spencer. Visitation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Poland Township Cemetery near Marathon. The funeral will also be livestreamed through the funeral home’s website for those unable to attend.
Phyllis was born November 6, 1929, in Ruthven, Iowa, to Paul and Josephine (Reardon) Roland. She grew up in Gillett Grove alongside her four siblings, Arlene, William, Robert and Mary Jean, graduating from Gillett Grove High School in 1948.
As a young woman, Phyllis developed a competitive spirit and a love for basketball. She excelled at the free-throw line, winning her school’s free-throw contest three consecutive years. Her basketball team also enjoyed considerable success under Coach Martin.
Those early experiences were just the beginning of a long life filled with determination, dedication and an appreciation for working together.
On June 20, 1948, Phyllis married Carl E. Waisner at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, beginning a marriage that would bring three daughters into their lives.
Carl’s work with the railroad took the young family to several communities before they settled in Redfield and eventually moved to Marathon in 1954.
In Marathon, Phyllis became a familiar face in the community. She initially worked at the local grocery store before taking on a position that combined two of her greatest strengths: preparing good food and caring for others.
She became head cook at the school, completing certification coursework in Ames and serving in that position for 10 years.
For Phyllis, cooking was never simply about preparing a meal. It was a practical way of making people feel welcome, appreciated and cared for.
She was also an active member of Marathon United Methodist Church, volunteering her time and accepting various responsibilities within the congregation.
Family life brought camping adventures, vacations and treasured weekends spent with Carl’s parents at East Lake Okoboji.
When Carl passed away in 1976, Phyllis was working at the Marathon Co-op. His death marked the end of an important chapter in her life, but more years of family, friendship and service were still ahead.
On September 22, 1978, Phyllis married Kenneth “Ken” Krukow, beginning a new chapter that expanded her family to include his children, Randy, Mark and Starla, along with their families.
The couple made their home on a farm near Dickens, where Phyllis continued sharing her talent in the kitchen.
She prepared meals for farmhands and hosted holiday gatherings that brought family members together around the table. Her cooking became part of the everyday rhythm of farm life and a cherished tradition for her growing family.
Phyllis and Ken also enjoyed spending time at their camper on Lost Island, a favorite gathering place where relatives could visit and make memories together.
After marrying Ken, Phyllis became a member of Gillett Grove United Methodist Church, continuing the strong connection to faith and community that had been important throughout her life.
When Ken passed away in 1997, Phyllis remained on the Dickens farm, where she continued welcoming family members and preparing meals for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even as the years passed, she remained active and involved in the lives of others.
She particularly enjoyed spending time with friends, including a cherished group of women known as her lunch bunch. Those gatherings provided opportunities for conversation, laughter and lasting companionship.
Phyllis also found fulfillment in helping young people learn.
Through the Iowa Reading First Program, she volunteered in schools, sharing her time and encouragement with students. Her dedication to helping children develop reading skills earned her recognition with a Governor’s Award for volunteerism.
The honor reflected a lifetime of service that extended well beyond her own family.
Whether she was feeding schoolchildren, volunteering in classrooms, helping at church or making sure visitors had something good to eat, Phyllis demonstrated her care for others through everyday actions.
In 2021, she moved to the Ruthven Care Center, where she spent her later years.
Phyllis is survived by her three daughters, Carla (Dave) Anderson of Dickens, Paula (Dave) Balder of Albert City and Gina Kohrs of Spencer.
She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Josephine Roland; her four siblings, Arlene, William, Robert and Mary Jean; her husbands, Carl Waisner and Kenneth Krukow; her son-in-law, Phil Kohrs; and other relatives and friends.
Over her 97 years, Phyllis experienced tremendous changes in the world around her, but some things remained constant: her devotion to family, her willingness to work hard and her belief in helping others.
From the basketball court in Gillett Grove to the school kitchens of Marathon, the family farm near Dickens and the classrooms where she volunteered, Phyllis built a life centered on making a difference in the lives of people around her.
Her legacy will continue through the generations of family she helped nurture, the students she encouraged and the countless memories made around her table.
Family and friends may share condolences, view the funeral livestream and find additional service information through Geelan Funeral Home’s obituary for Phyllis Krukow.
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