Twyla Grabill
August 13, 1931 — February 19, 2023
Twyla Mae Grabill, daughter of Mamie and Henry Plagmann, was born on August 13, 1931. Twyla attended Center Township Country School and graduated in 1949 from Harlan Community High School.
On August 14, 1950 Twyla married Charles Grabill at the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua. When recently asked, Twyla shared that the thing she was most proud of in life was marrying Charlie. They lived on a farm south of Harlan for a short time before moving to their home farm where they proudly raised their two children, Gayl and Galen. Together, Twyla and Charlie tended to their family farm, and loved spending time at their retirement home in Spirit Lake, enjoying the lakeside views, entertaining friends and family, and shopping at the flea markets. They were married for 71 years.
Twyla was very proud of her work at the Shelby County State Bank where she worked for several years. She always found ways to serve others well, either through her work as a bank clerk, assisting customers at Spurgeon's Department Store, or by taking care of the men in the field. Twyla would prepare a hot noon meal each day, while also making several trips to the field to ensure everyone had sandwiches and goodies mid morning and mid afternoon.
It seemed everyone knew Twyla. She was so sweet and kind, making friends everywhere she went. She was active in several neighborhood clubs and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and ILCW. She was a committed friend to so many and always spoke so highly of each of them. She was an amazing cook and always had baked goods available for anyone who might stop in. Her hobbies included sewing and embroidery. Twyla had a sharp mind and detailed memory. She was always organizing, documenting, and planning. She had a love for shoes, notepads and pens, jewelry, bags, and the color aqua. She poured everything she had into raising Gayl and Galen, who were truly her pride and joy. She selflessly served them, as well as Charlie and her son-in-law Dalton and daughter-in-law Donna in all of her years.
She took an active role in the lives of her six grandchildren, teaching them to sew and bake (especially her famous chocolate cake and spritz cookies), spoiling each one, and making sure they were NEVER hungry! She and Charlie would take each of them to their lakehouse during the summer months. Because of all that Twyla poured into her children and grandchildren, her legacy and memory will live on through her 22 great grandchildren, who brought her great joy. Since December 2021, Twyla was a resident at Salem Lutheran Home in Elkhorn, where she made a lasting impression with her sweet personality on everyone she met, including her nurses. Twyla will be forever remembered and cherished by all.
On the morning of February 19, 2023, Twyla passed away at Myrtue Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Grabill, parents Mamie and Henry Plagmann, and her brother Orrin Plagmann.
Twyla is survived by her daughter Gayl (Dalton) Jensen of Harlan, IA; son Galen (Donna) Grabill of Harlan, IA; 6 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.
On August 14, 1950 Twyla married Charles Grabill at the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua. When recently asked, Twyla shared that the thing she was most proud of in life was marrying Charlie. They lived on a farm south of Harlan for a short time before moving to their home farm where they proudly raised their two children, Gayl and Galen. Together, Twyla and Charlie tended to their family farm, and loved spending time at their retirement home in Spirit Lake, enjoying the lakeside views, entertaining friends and family, and shopping at the flea markets. They were married for 71 years.
Twyla was very proud of her work at the Shelby County State Bank where she worked for several years. She always found ways to serve others well, either through her work as a bank clerk, assisting customers at Spurgeon's Department Store, or by taking care of the men in the field. Twyla would prepare a hot noon meal each day, while also making several trips to the field to ensure everyone had sandwiches and goodies mid morning and mid afternoon.
It seemed everyone knew Twyla. She was so sweet and kind, making friends everywhere she went. She was active in several neighborhood clubs and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and ILCW. She was a committed friend to so many and always spoke so highly of each of them. She was an amazing cook and always had baked goods available for anyone who might stop in. Her hobbies included sewing and embroidery. Twyla had a sharp mind and detailed memory. She was always organizing, documenting, and planning. She had a love for shoes, notepads and pens, jewelry, bags, and the color aqua. She poured everything she had into raising Gayl and Galen, who were truly her pride and joy. She selflessly served them, as well as Charlie and her son-in-law Dalton and daughter-in-law Donna in all of her years.
She took an active role in the lives of her six grandchildren, teaching them to sew and bake (especially her famous chocolate cake and spritz cookies), spoiling each one, and making sure they were NEVER hungry! She and Charlie would take each of them to their lakehouse during the summer months. Because of all that Twyla poured into her children and grandchildren, her legacy and memory will live on through her 22 great grandchildren, who brought her great joy. Since December 2021, Twyla was a resident at Salem Lutheran Home in Elkhorn, where she made a lasting impression with her sweet personality on everyone she met, including her nurses. Twyla will be forever remembered and cherished by all.
On the morning of February 19, 2023, Twyla passed away at Myrtue Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Grabill, parents Mamie and Henry Plagmann, and her brother Orrin Plagmann.
Twyla is survived by her daughter Gayl (Dalton) Jensen of Harlan, IA; son Galen (Donna) Grabill of Harlan, IA; 6 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.
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