Zelma Arlene Motsick

Zelma Arlene Motsick, 95, of Perry, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Lakeside Village in Panora. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., one hour prior to the service at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Linden, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Midwest or the Perry Public Library. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Zelma was born on January 30, 1930, in Lincoln Township, Dallas County, Iowa, to Elmer Corbin and Eva (Bennick) Snively. She attended country school near Yale and graduated from Dawson High School in 1947.

On June 4, 1947, she was united in marriage to Lester Motsick at the Little Brown Church. Together they were blessed with three sons: Larry, Gary, and Rick.

She worked alongside Lester on the family farm and was a devoted homemaker, raising their children with love and care. Zelma was a longtime member of the Yale United Methodist Church, Friends of Prairie Center, and Friends of the Perry Public Library. She found great joy in dancing, reading, gardening, and playing music at the church.

She is survived by her sons, Larry (Gayle) Motsick of Rapid City, SD, and Gary Motsick of Dawson, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Lorrie Motsick of Panora, Iowa; grandchildren, Tammy DeWolfe of Westwood, MA, Mindy Van Beek of Sioux Center, IA, Matthew Motsick of Lafayette, CO, Tari Mason of Perry, IA, Jason Motsick of Orange, CA, and Tyler Motsick of Rapid City, SD; step-grandchildren, Lisa Uhre and Jeremy Livermont of Rapid City, SD; eleven great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Doyle Motsick of Panora; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Eva Snively; her husband, Les Motsick; her son, Rick Motsick; and her sisters, Wilma Kastner and Mary Summy.