ASHTON — Guyla Forrest Pfeiffer, 101, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. She was born on Feb. 1, 1919 in Fillmore, the daughter of Guy Forrest and Nora (Dillbeck) Casey. Guyla married Wayne Glenn Pfeiffer on Oct. 3, 1952; he preceded her on Dec. 5, 2009. 

As a young woman she learned the value of hard work and was employed at Delmonte Foods and Carron Spinning Company in Rochelle. After marrying Wayne in 1952, she assumed the role as a farm wife. She made it her duty to feed and care for their livestock and was often seen driving the tractor while Wayne tended seed. She also maintained a full time position at Crest Foods, where she finally retired at the ripe ole age of 96, and 47 years of commitment.

Guyla and Wayne were introduced through Wayne’s sister Irene during the ever popular era of card club. Playing cards together became one of couple’s favorite past times. 

They also enjoyed vacationing with friends and traveling to Texas to visit their daughter, Kalah, and her family. In her later years, Guyla loved spending her winters with Kalah, enjoying the mild temperatures and playing Sequence.

She spent much of her free time in her prosperous garden or preparing homemade meals and desserts, but what gave her true happiness was her children and grandchildren. Maurice and his boys were frequent visitors at the farm, being put to work baling hay and learning many life lessons from their grandmother. Mike devoted his life to farming alongside his father, and thus his children spent countless hours at grandmas, gathering eggs or picking berries just so grandma would make a batch of her famous raspberry jam for her family to enjoy.

She was the rock of her family as she was a reassuring role model that instilled perseverance in each member of her family. Guyla was exceedingly proud of her children and grandchildren’s accomplishments and successes. Although, we believe she was the root of our achievements.

Guyla was a strong, driven, fiercely independent woman and a true inspiration to all that knew her; may we all hope to have just a little of her within us. We will miss her every day.

She is preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Brian David; son, Maurice Stunkel; four siblings, Rex Casey, Virginia Spears, Norval Casey and Eileen Parish; and granddaughter Kathleen Stunkel.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Kalah (Mac) McCaskey of McKinney, Texas; son, Michael (Joan) Pfeiffer of Ashton; daughter-in-law, Jean Stunkel of Palatine; seven grandchildren, Karen (Mike) Belmont, Dr. Brian (Rebecca) Schaulin, Mark Stunkel, Steve (Michelle) Stunkel, Chris Stunkel, Tyler Pfeiffer, Dr. Taryn Pfeiffer (Adam) Almburg; three great-grandchildren, Brice and Preston Schaulin, and Madison Stunkel; and many adored nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle with Pastor Greg Hoffman officiating. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday prior to the funeral at St. Paul. A cemetery service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ashton Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to St. Paul Lutheran School or the Ashton Rescue Squad. The service will be live streamed on the Unger Horner Facebook page. 

Please visit www.UngerHorner.com to sign the online guestbook.