Phyllis Krumbein

Phyllis Krumbein hosted her last social gathering on her front porch on Meadow Lane, April 14th. It was an unusually warm spring day, family and friends gathered for a fish fry, listening to country music coming through the windows from her favorite television station – RFD TV. Anyone who knew Phyllis and her oldest sister Elaine knew they would never miss a musical episode from this station, especially Daniel O’Donnell! Phyllis is now surrounded by the most beautiful music as the Good Shepherd took her hand on April 30th and safely gathered her with all the saints and angels in heaven.

Phyllis Mae Meyer was born on August 9, 1935 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Ervin and Mabel (Hodinott) Meyer. She was baptized on August 25, 1935 and confirmed on April 2, 1950 at Immanuel Trinity Church in Fond du Lac. She married the love of her life, Vaughn Krumbein, on February 19, 1955 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They raised their three children in the house they built in 1962 on the Meyer homestead just north of Fond du Lac.

Phyllis was never idle. From a telephone operator for the phone company and Mercury Marine, to owning Sevicke’s Five and Dime Store in North Fond du Lac, to organizing volunteers for The Salvation Army; she still found time to accompany her sister, Elaine, as they guided coach bus tours all over the country.

She always supported her husband’s love of the outdoors which led them to retire in Stephenson, Michigan on the beautiful Menominee River. Many relatives and friends predicted that Phyllis would not last long in her wooded retreat while Vaughn was out hunting and fishing every day, but did she fool them. It did not take her long to gather new friends through her church membership at Holy Cross Lutheran in Daggett, Michigan. It started when she became a member of the church’s Ladies’ Aid which branched out to card clubs, bowling teams, West Bagley Homemakers, and the coveted honor of being the Queen of the Red Hat Halos in Stephenson. She often managed to acquire a leadership role in everything she did as her husband Vaughn affectionately referred to her as “the drill sergeant”. After her busy days of socializing, she made sure she was home by “five o’clock”!

Phyllis was loved by many and will be missed by her family, friends, and neighbors.

Survivors include; three sisters: Elaine Triatik, North Fond du Lac, Beverly Hegner (Richard) North Fond du Lac, and Karen Hielsberg (John) Omro; one brother-in law Dennis Krumbein, North Fond du Lac; four sisters-in-law: Sharon Pingel (Eugene), Forest Junction;

Debbie Krause (Jerry), North Fond du Lac; Mary Krumbein, Fond du Lac; Nancy Krumbein, Fond du Lac.

Son, Jeffrey Krumbein (Heidi Kolell), Fond du Lac; grandchildren: Elizabeth Geissler (Mitch), Manitowoc; Rachel Zwicke (Mike), North Fond du Lac; Noah Krumbein (Vicki Blanck), Fond du Lac; Naomi Ruh (Andrew), Fond du Lac; Jared Krumbein (Rachel Barnes), Omro; Hannah Krumbein, North Fond du Lac; Abigail Huhndorf (Will), Eden; Mara Grdinic (Matt), Tucson, Arizona; Lydia Krumbein, Neenah.

Son, Jay Krumbein (Trish), Red Granite; grandchildren: Nicole Luebke (Josh), Fort Atkinson; Haley Nigbor (Steve), Berlin.

Daughter, Jody Minton (Jeff), Stevens Point; grandchildren: Jaclyn Minton, Stevens Point; Jeremiah Minton (Amber Malsby), Cashton; Jadon Minton (Madison Stevens), Stevens Point.

Great- grandchildren: Chloe, Isabelle, Zachary, Elijah, Clara, Isaiah, Aspen, Isaac, Alex, Jack, Charlotte, Elias, Eloise, Liam, Samuel, Marleigh, Maeve, Ellie, Bodhi, Declan, Lucy and Evaleen.

Many special nieces and nephews who affectionately called her, “Philly Dilly”; other relatives, friends, and neighbors; she was preceded in death by her husband Vaughn; parents Ervin and Mabel Meyer and one sister, Lucille Jacobs.

Visitation will be held in Fond du Lac at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 855 Martin Avenue on Sunday, May 7th from 2-4 p.m., service to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send any cards or memorials to the church.

Every morning Phyllis would wake up and say: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. “I thank God for giving me another day.” We can rejoice with Phyllis knowing she is living eternally with her Savior in heaven and rejoicing every day.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Thessalonians 4:13-14