Phyllis Doubek

Phyllis Doubek, age 88, of Calmar, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Calmar Lutheran Church, 200 East Street, Calmar, Iowa, with Pastor Amanda Dahlseng-Monroe presiding. Burial will be in the St. John Catholic Cemetery in Fort Atkinson.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home – French Chapel, 202 South Washington Street, Calmar, Iowa. There will be no visitation at the church on Thursday morning, please come in and be seated.

The family encourages everyone to wear their favorite sports team apparel to the visitation and service.

Please share your favorite memory of Phyllis in the Guestbook section on her obit page.

Donations may be made to Ossian Senior Hospice or NE Iowa Agency on Aging in memory of Phyllis.

Phyllis Carol Doubek, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, was born on April 11, 1937, to Irene (Teslow) and Norman Halverson in Decorah.

Graduating from Decorah High School in 1955, Phyllis embarked on a beautiful journey when she married Paul Doubek on July 6, 1957. They resided most of their married life in Fort Atkinson.

Phyllis worked throughout her life at Aase Haugen Home, Spectrum Industries, and Luther College. Even after retirement, her commitment to giving back continued as she volunteered countless hours at South Winneshiek Elementary School.

She was the proud mother to four daughters, Paulette, Janet, Sandy, and Julie, and she continually entertained their lives with her valid attempts in keeping them out of trouble.

As a grandmother and great grandmother, she was involved and engaged in all of their activities. She never missed an opportunity to be present for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, patiently listening to never-ending living room performances and even helping create TikToks.

Phyllis was considered by many as the “ultimate fan,” cheering enthusiastically for local sports teams of all ages. Her spirited presence at games, always accompanied by Paul, was a hallmark of their life together. Every participant got a “Good Effort” shout from the stands regardless of his/her performance.

Phyllis loved most anyone who came into her life, but most of all she loved her family fiercely. She provided for them in any possible way she could, whether it was buttered ham sandwiches for all the baseball players, tootsie pops for theater performers, making vodka slushes from the trunk of her car when you turned legal age, going on endless drives with her great grandkids, shopping trips to Target, towels for Christmas, or just spending time listening and enjoying everyone’s presence.

Phyllis loved to laugh and have fun, especially during her summer fishing escapades with her lifelong friends, Patty, Helen, Mert, Lois, and Bev, affectionately known as the “River Rats.” Every Friday night, they could be found at the Corner Bar kicking their legs in the air and singing “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

Phyllis enjoyed sharing her stories from her childhood in Decorah. She cherished the drives around the old homesteads and cemeteries where her relatives are buried. She had many stories to share about the time she spent with her grandparents, aunts, and uncles of whom she loved and was very fond of.

Bowling was one of many of Phyllis’s great talents, one that earned her many accolades across state and national levels.

This past summer, Phyllis had the honor of representing the Ossian Care Center as their Ossian Day’s Queen, a role she embraced with joy, celebrating the care center that “was so good to her.”

She is survived by her daughters, Paulette (Mark Balik)Doubek and Sandy (Tony Runkel)Doubek, son-in-law Scott Monroe, her grandchildren Nicole (Brian) Ondrashek, Darin (Amanda) Monroe, Ryan (Kelsey) Monroe, and Alaina Runkel, and her great-grandchildren, Madisen (Jimmy) Fuhrman, Dayten, Annisten, and Lauren Ondrashek. Grace, Josephine, Eleanor, Jamisen, Luella, and Orville Monroe. She is also survived by her loving sister, Harriet Hovey, and brother-in-law, Elliott Christen.

She was preceded in death by her husband Paul, daughters Julie Doubek and Janet Monroe, her parents Norman and Irene Halverson, sister Beverly Christen, brothers Curtis and Robert Halverson, and her in-laws Edward and Agnes Doubek, Chuck and Dorothy Doubek.

As we remember Phyllis, let us celebrate a life well-lived. Her spirit will forever remain within the hearts of all who knew her.