Obituary of Sylvia F. Pence

Sylvia F. Pence, 94, of rural Iowa City, died Monday, February 8, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Thursday at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Sylvia's memory may be made to the Sylvia Pence Memorial Fund. Sylvia Fern Tuttle was born December 22, 1921, in Cincinnati, Iowa; daughter of Jasper G. and Etta M. (Jones) Tuttle. After country school, she married William Hahn in July of 1937; William passed away in July of 1962. In 1963, Sylvia married Charles Pence Sr., who had passed away in 1990. She spent her life on the farm, raising twelve children, gardening and making sure no one ever went hungry; as she loved to cook for anyone who would visit. Sylvia's home was a place for gathering, where she always welcomed all visitors. Sylvia enjoyed time camping, fishing from the banks of the Cedar, bowling, stock car races, traveling to motocross events with her family, and watching bull riding with her grandkids during living room campouts on Friday nights. Throughout Sylvia's life she stayed very active and was always up for an adventure, one moment she was very proud of, was water skiing at the age of 75. She was a very proud and supporting mother and grandmother, who always enjoyed attending sporting and school events. She was also a member of the Moose Lodge and the North Liberty Saddle Club. Her family includes her children, Wilma Lang and her husband, Alan of Central City; John Hahn and his wife, Pati of Riverside, Anna Marie Sleeth of Parnell, Sylvia Smith and her husband, Dean of Oxford, Dave Hahn and his wife, Pat of Iowa City, Vivian "Shorty" Hahn of Iowa City, Kenny Hahn and his wife, Cindy of Iowa City, Charlotte Hahn and her significant other, Frank Mesa of Iowa City, Bill Hahn and his wife, Cathy of Iowa City, Mary Hahn-Sexton of West Branch and Charlie Pence Jr. and his wife, Diana of Iowa City; as well as a large family of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, William T. "Butch" Hahn; three grandchildren; sister, Melba McEldery and brother, Glen Tuttle.