Phyllis A. Hummel

Phyllis Anne Hummel, 87, of Reinbeck, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo, Iowa, peacefully surrounded by family. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10:30 a.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reinbeck. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck City Cemetery. All are welcome to join the family at BarLea Roots Event Centre, 24735 U Avenue T-55, Reinbeck, IA 50669 following the graveside service for a time of fellowship where lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Reinbeck Library, or to the family to be donated to a cause in honor of Phyllis.

Phyllis was born on August 31, 1938, in Dinsdale, Iowa, to Earl and Doris (Hite) Dinsdale. She graduated from Dinsdale High School in 1956 and later attended Humboldt Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was employed in Des Moines and Traer before beginning her life’s work alongside her husband on the farm.

On December 10, 1958, Phyllis was united in marriage to the love of her life Rolland H. Hummel at Amity Church in rural Reinbeck. Together they farmed in Butler County, first on the Hummel family farm, later moving to Tama County in 1967 back to her beloved Dinsdale area. They raised corn and soybeans and were hog producers, building a life rooted in hard work, perseverance, and commitment to the land. Together Phyllis and Rolland had four children; Melissa, Mike, Jennifer and Julie.

Phyllis was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She took deep pride in her faith, family, and the life she helped build through years of steady, honest labor. Her life was firmly grounded in her faith, and she was a devoted member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where her faith guided her actions and sustained her through life’s challenges. She was never afraid of hard work and met challenges head-on, whether in the fields, the home, the garden, or during life’s harder seasons. Though she was tough in the best sense of the word, she was also deeply kind, loving, and generous. Though her family and friends were many, Phyllis had a gift and a way of making each one feel seen and accepted.

She had a lifelong love of music and cherished time spent with friends and family. She found great joy in gardening, yard work, the outdoors, and took pride in caring for the land around her home. Her strength, warmth, quiet determination, and deep friendships within her community left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Phyllis is survived by her four children: Melissa (Mel) Sweerin, Mike (Rita) Hummel, Jennifer (Mike) Schick, Julie (Mike) Peterson; 11 grandchildren: Jared (Rachel) Sweerin, Nathan (Melanie) Sweerin, Nicholas (Peyton) Sweerin, Sarah (Kyle) Smith, Jacob (Natalie) Hummel, Jordan (Mandy) Schick, Tyler (Hayley) Schick, Lydia (Reed) Dinsdale, Elise (Colton) Dinsdale, Jed Peterson, Joshua (Kailie) Peterson and 25 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Don Dinsdale, and her sister, Carole Franken. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Rolland and by great grandchild Elijah Sweerin. 

She will be remembered as a woman of grit and grace — someone who understood that love, meaning, and success are built through effort, resilience, and care for others. Her example will continue to inspire her family for generations to come.