Phyllis Corrine Holven

After her health continued to decline, our beloved mother, and master of living life to the fullest, Phyllis Holven passed away in her home with family present and under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice on March 13, 2026.

Phyllis Corrine Newman was born in Mabel, Minnesota on Feb. 21, 1934, to Anders and Nola (Sherburne) Newman. She grew up in Mabel and the surrounding area. She graduated from Mabel High School at the top of her class. She worked as a waitress until she met and married Lloyd Thomas Holven. They moved frequently and settled in several areas in Iowa (Waterloo, Decorah, Eldora, Dysart and lastly Toledo). She worked at J.C. Penney's in Waterloo and retired from Schoitz Hospital. She loved her family, genealogy, her pets, music, gardening, playing cards and traveling. She was a master gardener, and in her later years she was recognized by the Tama County Department of Natural Resources. Her life was shared with her husband Tom, who passed away Aug. 9, 2025.

Left to mourn her are her children Rebecca (Allan) Alexander of Toledo, Russell (Barb) Holven of Waterloo, April Holven of Wellsburg and daughter-in-law Tracy Hathaway of Marshalltown. Grandchildren include Jennifer Kenyon of Des Moines, Beth Robinson of Carlisle, and Jon Kenyon of Des Moines, Danny (Sara) Holven of Parkersburg, Adam (Amber) Holven of Faribault, Minnesota, Heather (Joe) Myers of Muscatine, Nathan (Brooke) Holven of Gilman, Chelsea Holven of Cedar Rapids, Ryan & Andrew Graveman of Wellsburg, and Alicia (Daniel) Yoder of Fayette. Great-grandchildren include Kennedy (Cody) Roland of Des Moines, Karson (Mary) Martin of Carlisle, Alyson and Amber Irlbeck, Mathew (Candace) Robinson of Tama, Wesley (Adrianna) Robinson of Washington State, Asia Eilders of Ames, Dylan & Owen Holven of Faribault, Minnesota, Morgan Holven of Duluth, Minnesota, Hailey (Lexton) Hughes of Parkersburg, Andrew Holven of Aplington, Conner Holven of Parkersburg, Dillon and Macy Myers of Muscatine, Sophie, Caleb and Landon Holven of Gilman, Thomas, Noah, and Asher Yoder of Fayette and Aiden, Justice and Addy Rice of Cedar Rapids. Great-great grandchildren include Theo, Bryer, and Kapri Roland of Des Moines, Marleigh Martin of Carlisle, Kaylan Irlbeck of Ankeny, Maleigha, Dallas, Raiden, and Journey Robinson of Tama, Charleigh, Dallas, Emily Robinson of Ackley, Layton and Riker Hughes of Parkersburg.

She enjoyed the love of many nieces and nephews and is survived by her brother-in-law Cletus Hanson of Spring Grove, Minn., her cherished pet Mya and many family members. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, son Douglas Holven, her parents, brother Peter Newman and wife Janice, sister Marilyn Barz and her husband Ted, and sister Patty Hanson and many other wonderful family and close friends.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Otter Creek Nature Center (Otter Creek Park) near Toledo, Iowa on May 3,2026 - the time to be determined.