Wilma (Brand) Grifhorst

Wilma Grifhorst, 90, of Britt passed away of cancer on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services for Wilma Grifhorst will be held on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 707 4th Street SW, in Britt with Pastor Robert Dodge officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2010 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Wilma was born October 7, 1919 in Kanawha, Iowa to William and Sophia (Kothenbeutel) Brand, and graduated from Kanawha High School.

On December 26, 1941 she was untied in marriage to Richard M. Grifhorst. Wilma and Dick worked at Douglas Aircraft Corpoaration in Chicago during WWII. In 1946 they moved to Wesley, Iowa and operated the Grifhorst Drug Store. In 1950 they built a new home in Britt, and shared ownership of the Lee and Grifhorst Drug Store in Britt. In 1973 it became Grifthorst Drug, which Dick and Wilma operated until 1991.

Wilma was a member of the United Methodist Church in Britt. She enjoyed many trips with her family, in addition to reading, golfing and bridge.

Left to honor her memory are her children Lois (Wendell) Harms of Ankeny, Paul of Aurora, Illinois; her five precious grandchildren: B.J. Grifhorst of Tempe, Arizona, Kevin (Heather) and great-grandson Carver of Iowa City, David Grifhorst of Madison, Wisconsin, Major Christopher Kopacek of Enid, Oklahoma and Kimberly (Steve) Peute of Tucson, Arizona; brother Alvin of Spring Hill, Florida; sister Erma of Gig Harbor, Washington, numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Melvin, her husband Richard, in 2002, and her son, Jim, in 2008.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Britt United Methodist Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or the Britt Family Aquatic Center.