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Theresa LaVonne Pelzer
THERESA LAVONNE PELZER
Tipton
Theresa LaVonne Pelzer, 87, of Tipton, died peacefully on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Cedar Manor Nursing Home surrounded by family.
Visitation will be Monday, July 23, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary service at 3:30 p.m. at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, July 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tipton. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.
Should friends so desire, a memorial has been established for Cedar Manor Nursing Home or St. Mary's Guild.
Theresa was born on July 8, 1931, in rural Mechanicsville, Iowa, to Joseph Fladge and Nellie Preston Clements. She graduated from Springdale High School with the Class of 1949 and was united in marriage to Richard John Pelzer on Jan. 27, 1951, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cedar Valley. Theresa was a homemaker and farm wife. In her early years, she worked at Younkers and as a secretary for the University of Iowa. She took many years off to raise her children, later returning to retail sales for Betty & Vi's and J C's Womenswear in Tipton. Theresa was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Guild, was a member of the Friends of the Library and enjoyed playing cards in various card clubs.
She loved having her grandkids at the house and was the consummate host, always making sure that she had everyone's favorite food on hand. In the family, she was best known for her cookies, especially her chocolate chip, oatmeal and peanut butter blossoms. Theresa loved to laugh, visit and make new friends. She delighted in the times she would beat her husband, Dick, while playing cards. Nothing made her laugh and smile more.
Theresa is survived by her daughters, Diane (Rick) Moon of Tipton, Jean (Jerry) Keller of Waverly and Joanne (Rick) Gritton of Tipton; sons, Dennis (Dixie) Pelzer and Michael (Kim) Pelzer, both of Tipton; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard, on June 10, 2017; grandson, David Behrle; sisters, Deloris Owens and Mary Williams; and brothers, William Clements, Alfred Clements and Manuel Clements.
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