Phyllis L. Schat, 80, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at the Lake Mills Care Center.

Phyllis LaVonne Schat was born Aug. 22, 1936, in Orange City, Iowa. She was raised in Maurice, Iowa, by her parents, Reynold and Clara Schat.

She was a graduate of Maurice High School and the University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, she taught physical education for five years in the Lake Mills Community School. She became a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she earned her masters degree in counseling. Phyllis enjoyed her 30 yeas in counseling at Austin High School and Ellis Middle School in Austin, Minnesota.

Her love of nature and the outdoors led her to camp counseling during her college years. Later in life, she lived at Rice Lake, Iowa, near Lake Mills, where she enjoyed her beloved birds and all of nature.

After retiring in 1998, Phyllis moved to Lake Mills where she was a member of Salem Lutheran Church. Through her many years in the Lake Mills area, she sang in the church choir, was a member of the community chorus, Ginny, Ginny and Company, and was a member of the Fine Arts Guild. Phyllis was also a Hospice of North Iowa volunteer.

She is survived by a brother, Ralph Schat and his wife, Joyce; many nieces and nephews; her good friend, Virginia Thomas; and all of the amazing nurses and aides at the Lake Mills Care Center

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Clarence Schat.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, with Pastor Melinda McCluskey officiating. Inurnment will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Lake Mills.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Salem Lutheran Church.

Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills is assisting the family with arrangements.