Sylvia Ridgley

Sylvia, daughter of Ed and Helen (Schmidt) Grimm, was born October 27, 1942, on the family farm north of Manilla, Iowa. She grew up there and graduated from Manilla High School in 1960. Sylvia then worked at JC Penney in Des Moines for a year.

On May 28, 1961, Sylvia was united in marriage with Joseph Gail Ridgley at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla. Four children were born to this marriage, Debra, Timothy, Steven and Terisa. They lived in various places in the Denison area and in Kalispell, Montana. In 1973, they were divorced but were reunited in 1974 and moved to Spokane, Washington. Sylvia and her children returned to Iowa in 1980 and lived in Manning for 13 years. Sylvia worked in Audubon as a purchasing agent for a horse trailer company and worked parttime for Casey’s, Cliff’s and L & M Bowl. She was reunited with Gail in 1993 and they resided in Denison for the remainder of their lives. While in Denison, Sylvia worked at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in the Dietary Department, retiring in 2009.

Sylvia was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Throughout the years, she enjoyed raising horses, reading and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

After a third battle with cancer, Sylvia passed away surrounded by family at her home in Denison, Iowa on November 19, 2020. She was 78 years and 23 days of age.

Sylvia is survived by four children: Steve Ridgley of Carroll; Deb Chapman and husband Bob of Manilla; Terisa Nelson of Bellevue, NE; Tim Ridgley and wife Shaloh of Carroll; Grandchildren: Dennis Chapman and wife Kala; Sean Chapman and wife Autumn; Tami Link; Chris Chapman and wife Stephanie; Erik Chapman and wife Tamara; Doug Ridgley and wife Sarah; Stephanie Ahrenholtz and husband Justin; Derrie Vonnahme; Melissa Nelson and boyfriend Mitchell Webster; Jessica Nelson and fianc Jeffrey Fischer; Great-grandchildren: Brody, Jhett, Adley Jo, Jace, Jaylee, Redmond, Emirsann, Elliette, Erikah, Everest, Weston and Wade; a sister Jeannette (Lyell) Miller of Chehalis, WA; two sisters-in-law: Carol (Don) Smith of Phoenix, AZ, and Jean Ferry of Irwin. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gail Ridgley; a sister Virgene Burright and husband Doug; a brother Robert Grimm and wife Arlene; Gail’s parents Joe and Mildred Ridgley; two brothers-in-law: Don Ferry and Ed (Butch) Ridgley and wife Martha.