Mellecker, Phyllis M.

Phyllis M. Mellecker, 81, of Hills died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at the Hills Atrium Village.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hills. Burial will be at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery, rural Hills. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in her memory. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at

Phyllis Maxine Stika was born March 25, 1929, in Iowa City, the daughter of James and Clara (Holtkamp) Stika. She attended Iowa City schools, graduating from City High School in 1947. She then attended Irish Business College in Iowa City. On May 24, 1949, she married Bernard S. Mellecker at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hills. The couple has lived in the Hills and Iowa City area all their lives. Phyllis worked as a bookkeeper for a number of businesses in the area including Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric, Eldon Stutzman Company, Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company, Wicks Oil Company, River Products Company, retiring from the University of Iowa in June of 1989 after many years there.

She worked outside the home for many years, but home was where her heart and soul were. She cared for her family in so many ways, from knitting and sewing clothes for all the kids and her husband to being known as an excellent cook and baker to many within and outside their family, she loved being wife, mom and grandma! Phyllis was a longtime member of the St. Joseph Parish in Hills.

Her family includes her husband of 61 years, Bernard; their children, Marge Pottorff (Michael), Jim Mellecker (Vickie), Dave Mellecker (Margaret), Julie Mellecker (Paul Whitten), all of Coralville; Susan Mellecker (Terry Vargason) of Iowa City; grandchildren, Scott Pottorff (Gina), Cree Pottorff, McKenzie Mellecker, Kelly Mellecker, Chloe Mellecker, Lisa Mellecker, Eli Vargason, Ava Vargason; two great-grandchildren, Andrew and Michelle Pottorff; and Phyllis's sister, Bernice Logan (Robert) of Washington.