Marcella M. Wyatt
RICEVILLE, IOWA—Marcella Marie Wyatt, 97, died at her residence on Nov. 21, 2008.
She was born in Westphalia, Iowa, on May 28, 1911 to George and Mamie (Emig) Kohles.
She was the eldest of 10 children.
Mrs. Wyatt attended local schools until the seventh grade when she quit school to help at home and work around the neighborhood.
She and her two sisters played accordion at dances and this is how she met her husband to be, Howard.
She and Howard Wyatt were united in Cresco, Iowa in 1933.
They started farming after their marriage five miles south of Le Roy, Minn.
She worked in Riceville restaurants for more than 40 years, most of those with Ellwood Pettitt at Pettitt’s Café.
Bowling was one of her great loves.
She was part of the Recorderette bowling team for 32 years, which took the title of Champion of Champions in the state tournament.
Her love of family and friends was always evident as she always found time to welcome them into her home, often offering a snack and a funny story.
Survivors include four sons, Pete of Riceville, Jerry and wife Dorothy of Wabasha, Minn, Tom and wife Karen of Eldridge, Iowa, and Ben and wife Diane of Decorah, Iowa; two daughters Hazel Smith of Riceville and Mary Ann Sweeney and husband Larry of Riceville; 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Stella and husband Warren Wyatt of Riceville, Rita and husband Jim Thompson of Riceville and Anna and husband Jim Sullivan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was the great-aunt of Jena Passut and husband Charlie of Franklin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Howard in 1991, two grandsons, James Shane and Kyle Wyatt; one great-grandson, Brandon Mathias and a son-in-law Ed Smith; brothers, Urban Kohles and Alfred Kohles; four sisters, Lenore Kohles, Mary Whillinger, Helen Sullivan, Rose Kohles and two special great-nephews, Chris and Casey DeHoet.
A mass of the resurrection was held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville.
Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Riceville.