Phyllis Elaine Herendeen, 91 of Vancouver WA, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2018. She was born in Proctor, Minnesota to Chester and Marie (Nelson) Dunstan, March 25, 1927. Phyllis and her parents moved from Duluth MN to Vancouver WA during WWII. She graduated from Vancouver High School in 1945 and married Elmer Strohmeier in March of 1948. Elmer preceded her in death in 2000. Phyllis reunited with her Minnesota high school sweetheart, James Herendeen, a WWII veteran, and they married in 2004.
Phyllis became the first EKG Technician in Vancouver, starting at Memorial Hospital and moving to St. Joseph’s Hospital, working over 30 years before her retirement in 1990. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and an avid traveler. A talented artist, Phyllis’s drawings and watercolors beautifully capture the details of her subject. She skillfully created charming caricatures of the people around her, making greeting cards a personalized experience.
Phyllis is survived by her husband James Herendeen of Minneapolis MN; daughter Kristine Sinner (Richard) of Vancouver WA; sons Paul Strohmeier (Jill) of Seattle WA, John Strohmeier (Laura) of Richmond CA and Elmer Strohmeier Jr. of St. Paul MN; grandchildren Kate Sinner, Bryce Sinner, Reid Strohmeier, Nick Strohmeier, Maya Strohmeier, Kurt Strohmeier and Karl Strohmeier and six great grandchildren.
Phyllis’s family will privately celebrate her life. Those wishing to memorialize Phyllis are welcome to make a donation, in lieu of flowers to Trinity Lutheran Church.
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