Bom-Wrapper

About An Amazing Life|Help

Wilma E
Rafferty (Phillips)

August 26, 1922 – November 23, 2018

Wilma Rafferty
Share this tribute
Memorial Candles Lit for Wilma | SEE ALL
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
— Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory

Obituary for Wilma E Rafferty (Phillips)

Print
Wilma Rafferty 96, returned to God’s loving arms on November 23, 2018 at Ennoble Manor in
Dubuque, Iowa, surrounded by her family, friends, and caregivers.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at the Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Road. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Wilma was the sixth of seven children, born August 26, 1922 in Des Moines Iowa to Robert M
and Bessie Phillips. She attended Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines and John
Brown University in Siloam Springs Arkansas where she graduated with a double major in
Business and Biblical Greek. She also met her life partner Carl Rafferty. They were married
November 25, 1948 and moved to Columbus Nebraska where they both worked at a local
religious radio station. They had four children and a full life. Together, they traveled in the USA as well as England and Germany. After Carl’s death in 1999, Wilma
moved to Dubuque to live with her daughter’s family and added extended visits to California
and Ireland to her itinerary.
Wilma spent her life caring for her family. Outside the home, she worked as a bookkeeper.
During WWII she saved her brother Walter’s job while he was in the Navy. She taught her son
Bill to ride a bike and catch a ball, she sewed doll clothes and sweet dresses for three
generations of little girls, she provided unconditional love every day. Even as a young mother of
four, she found time to volunteer in leadership and service positions at church, school, and
ARC. As her health weakened and she moved into skilled care, she again showed her
children what grace and acceptance look like. She was in her quiet way a true woman of valor.
She will be remembered with love by her four children Phyllis (Rafferty) Garfield, William Rafferty,
Carolyn Rafferty, and Claudia Rafferty, as well as son-in-law Alan Garfield and daughter-in-law
Karen Sloth Rafferty. Her grandchildren Anna, Eliot, Eric, Meg, Carly, Peter, and Jenee, all were
blessed to know her well and will always hold her memory as a light in their lives. Her great-
grandchildren William, Jensen, Elena, and Jonathan also received the gift of her strong and
loving presence.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed in her memory to People In Need,
Hope Partnership Nepal, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship or the University of Dubuque
Scholarship Fund.
The family extend their heartfelt thanks to the loving and compassionate care of the nurses and caregivers at Ennoble Skilled Nursing & Rehab.

Visitation

When Tuesday, November 27th, 2018 10:00am - 11:15am
Location
Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory
Address
2659 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque, IA 52002

Service Information

When
Tuesday, November 27th, 2018 11:30am
Location
Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory
Address
2659 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque, IA 52002

Interment Information

Location
Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery
Address
4400 Merle Hay Road
Des Moines, IA 50310
Share by: