Twyla Bernice Wagaman

https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ Twyla Bernice Wagaman, 96, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on the early morning of September 20, 2019, at Grandview Heights Care and Rehab Facility. Following Twyla’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be one hour before at 1:00 PM at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. There will be a burial at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be directed in Twyla’s name to her family. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Twyla and her family. Twyla Appelgate was born on January 25, 1923, in Toledo, Iowa. She was the daughter of Alva and Charlotte (Yetley) Appelgate. She was raised and educated in the Toledo school district. Twyla graduated from Toledo High School with the class of 1941. Following high school she attended Evangelical School of Nursing, graduating in 1944. Twyla honorably served her country as an Army R.N. at an evac hospital in India. She served for approximately 12 months before returning home at the end of World War II. On April 21, 1946, Twyla was united in marriage to the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Wagaman, at the Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown. To this union, a daughter was born. Twyla was a dedicated and hardworking woman who devoted the majority of her working career as a registered nurse in the Marshalltown hospital. She was instrumental in creating the first Central Sterile Supply department, and later upgrading the Infection Control duties. She is still known for her fearless pursuit of excellent patient care, regardless of who she had to remind to “Wash Your Hands”. She humbly would say these were two of the greatest learning experiences in her life. After retirement in 1989 she was able to participate in more of the patriotic interests in her life. She was active in the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary, the VFW, and Dutch’s Dollies, holding many offices over the years. She always participated in distributing poppies and flags, and worked diligently with her sisters to decorate a patriotic store window at the Marshalltown Mall each year.  She was also very active in the C-B-I (China-Burma-India) organization, which enabled veterans stationed in these areas to meet yearly and enjoy the camaraderie they forged in the war. She tirelessly planned and hosted many of these meetings here in Marshalltown. They were touching and heartwarming activities to attend. These activities kept her young and vibrant well into her 80s. Twyla was a dedicated and proud American who was not afraid to show her love for her country and the Red, White, and Blue! Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Cynthia Bruster; grandchildren Deidre (Lt. Col. Scott) Tasler and children Zachary (Melannie) Tasler, 2nd Lt. Clay Tasler, U.S. Air Force, and Paige Tasler; Jessica Copley and children Evan, Amelia, and Gabriel Copley; and great-great grandson Hayden Tasler; sister-in-law Shirley Appelgate; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband Bob; her parents; sisters Darlene Pagel, Wanda Berhow-Phipps, and Gloria Wulff Ohrt; and brothers Ward, Lowell, Glen, and Dwight Appelgate.