Carmella Wingert Grap
August 6, 1932 — July 4, 2021
Carmella Jane Wingert Grap, daughter of Frank and Eldene (Bendon) Pursell, was born August 6, 1932 in Portsmouth, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Portsmouth.
On October 4, 1949, Carmella was united in marriage to Leo Wingert at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Five children were born to this union: Alan, Barry, Wayne, Peggy and Paul. Carmella worked on the family farm while raising her children. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1952 and returned to Iowa in 1965 when they took over operation of the Pursell Family Farm. After the death of Leo, Carmella remained on the family farm.
On August 27, 1977, Carmella was united in marriage to Donovan Grap at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth. Together they lived in Portsmouth and would travel to Arizona for the winter months. She was very active in her community helping the neighborhood ladies with making meals for others and baking pies. She loved to quilt and read.
Carmella died on Sunday, July 4, 2021 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, ten months and twenty-eight days. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by both her husbands Leo and Donovan, son Wayne Wingert and siblings: Jane Pursell, Kathleen Kleffman, Loretta Blum, and Gene Pursell.
She is survived by her children: Alan (Colleen) Wingert of Buckeye, Arizona; Barry (Terri) Wingert of Bellevue, Nebraska; Peggy (Al) Birnley of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Paul (Lori) Wingert of Harlan, Iowa; daughter-in-law Debbie Wingert of Denison, Iowa; Donovan’s children: Cheryl (Jim) Gardner of Waterloo, Iowa; Gayle Grap of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Rodney (Jenny) Grap of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Lee Ann (Robert) Knecht of Pacific Junction, Iowa; 22 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; siblings: Mary Ann Kramer of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Paul (Betty) Pursell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Elaine (Walter) Koch of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Jerry (Anna) Pursell of New River, Arizona; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
On October 4, 1949, Carmella was united in marriage to Leo Wingert at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Five children were born to this union: Alan, Barry, Wayne, Peggy and Paul. Carmella worked on the family farm while raising her children. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1952 and returned to Iowa in 1965 when they took over operation of the Pursell Family Farm. After the death of Leo, Carmella remained on the family farm.
On August 27, 1977, Carmella was united in marriage to Donovan Grap at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth. Together they lived in Portsmouth and would travel to Arizona for the winter months. She was very active in her community helping the neighborhood ladies with making meals for others and baking pies. She loved to quilt and read.
Carmella died on Sunday, July 4, 2021 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, ten months and twenty-eight days. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by both her husbands Leo and Donovan, son Wayne Wingert and siblings: Jane Pursell, Kathleen Kleffman, Loretta Blum, and Gene Pursell.
She is survived by her children: Alan (Colleen) Wingert of Buckeye, Arizona; Barry (Terri) Wingert of Bellevue, Nebraska; Peggy (Al) Birnley of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Paul (Lori) Wingert of Harlan, Iowa; daughter-in-law Debbie Wingert of Denison, Iowa; Donovan’s children: Cheryl (Jim) Gardner of Waterloo, Iowa; Gayle Grap of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Rodney (Jenny) Grap of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Lee Ann (Robert) Knecht of Pacific Junction, Iowa; 22 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; siblings: Mary Ann Kramer of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Paul (Betty) Pursell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Elaine (Walter) Koch of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Jerry (Anna) Pursell of New River, Arizona; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carmella Wingert Grap, please visit our flower store.