Phyllis Jane Sleeper Wynkoop, 96, of Clarence, IA, passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Clarence Senior Living in Clarence, IA. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa, with a short celebration of life service beginning at 11:45 A.M at Carson’s. A private burial will be held at a later date at the Cady Cemetery, in rural Wyoming, IA. 

Phyllis Jane Sleeper was born on February 25, 1928, in Delmar, IA, to Lulu (Waite) and Ray M. Sleeper. Jane’s father passed away when she was 8 and her mother raised Jane and her 8 siblings. When Jane’s brother married a girl named Phyllis, Jane started using her middle name to avoid confusion, so she has gone by Jane most of her life. 

Jane was a graduate of Delmar High School where she met the love of her life, Leonard Wynkoop. They were married on June 15, 1947, in Delmar, IA, and to this union five children were born: Marianne, Brenda, Susan, Todd, and Timm. When Leonard passed in 2018, they were approaching their 71^st anniversary!

Jane was a secretary at Delmar School in the early years of their marriage, and belonged to the Pythian Sisters Fraternal Order where she achieved the high honor of Most Excellent Chief. She and Leonard farmed nearly all their lives, raising mostly hogs, dairy cows, horses, and goats. As a farm wife, she worked hard alongside Leonard, as they taught their kids to work hard, too. When they moved to Wyoming in 1958, Jane became involved in Progressive Club and later their neighborhood Pleasant Ridge Club, among others. Jane and Leonard were lifetime members of the Baldwin Saddle Club, and Jane was crowned the 2010 Baldwin Saddle Club Queen! 

Jane served on the Wyoming Museum Board, the Betterment Committee, and her favorite, the Wyoming Library Board. She worked there some, filling in when needed, and worked at the Wyoming Veterinary Office for a number of years.

Jane was known far and wide for her butterhorns, winning many awards for those, and other baked goods. Jane was also a master seamstress. She used those skills on clothes for the family, and other creations, such as Barbie clothes, quilted billfolds, and kids’ activity books.  However, she was probably most famous for making underwear. She had over a thousand customers who ordered custom-made undies in many designs and styles, and for all ages. When she ‘retired’ from making underwear, her meticulous records showed that she had made 16,442 pairs between 1972 and December 2013, and had sold them in 30 states and several foreign countries! She was just an all-around talented, dedicated, hard-working, kind, and generous person. 

Those left to honor her memory include three daughters, Marianne (Vern) Oepping of Estes Park, CO, Brenda Degner of Muscatine, IA, and Susan Hellmer of Plymouth, WI; two sons, Todd Wynkoop (Sue) of Clarence, IA, and Timm Wynkoop (Lori) of Lowden, IA; and 11 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard in 2018, her parents, one sister, and seven brothers.

Memorials may be made to the Midland Ambulance Service and the Wyoming Library.

“She maintained her silliness, sassiness, and spunk throughout her fight with dementia.”

This describes Jane perfectly!

Jane’s family would like to thank all the caregivers at Clarence Senior Living who laughed with her, gave her reassuring hugs, and eased her pain.

Online Condolences may be left at www.carsonandson.com.