Obituary of Thelma J. Whittaker

Thelma Whittaker, 80, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at Colonial Manor.  Services are 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 30, at Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Columbus Junction.  Burial will be in the Columbus City Cemetery.  Following committal services, food and fellowship will be held at the Louisa County Fairground’s Youth Center.  Visitation will be Friday, June 29, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Columbus Junction Public Library.  Sympathy notes may be left to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com. 

Thelma Jean Buckley was born November 12, 1937, in Muscatine, the daughter of George McKinley and Lois (Pinckney) Buckley.  Thelma graduated from Muscatine High School, received her Teaching Certificate from Drake University, Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa, and Master’s Degree in Teaching from Marycrest.  On April 16, 1960, Thelma was united in marriage to Raymond Harold Whittaker in Aledo, Illinois.  Thelma started teaching at Stanwood and then took time off to raise her children and later taught at Columbus Community Schools, retiring in 2002.  Thelma was a past member of the Mulford Evangelical Church and current member of the Grandview Community Church.  She was an avid gardener and enjoyed reading, playing cards, listening to music and had a thirst for knowledge. 

Thelma will be deeply missed by her children, David (Joanne) Whittaker of West Des Moines and Tim (Carol) Whittaker of Letts; step-children, Larry (Linda) Whittaker of Lakeland, Florida and Rick (Rose) Whittaker of Muscatine; 19 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Joseph (Barbara) Buckley of LaGrange, Wyoming; sisters, Ida Ottaviano of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Ruth (Larry) Robertson of Grinnell and Myrna (Robert) Sell of Aledo, Illinois and many nieces and nephews.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, son, Jefferey, step-daughter, Sally, step-son, Neil and brothers, Charles, Donovan and Stanley.