Obituary of Alta Widmer

Alta Fern (Stutzman) Widmer, 95, Iowa City, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg, IA after a period of declining health.

She was born on March 8, 1928, in rural Kalona to parents, Ervin J. and Lydia (Bontrager) Stutzman.  Alta was the seventh of fourteen children, eleven who lived to adulthood. She attended East Lincoln rural school through eighth grade and went on to earn her GED as an adult in 1976.

On June 27,1954, Alta married George W. Widmer at East Union Mennonite Church. They made their home in the Iowa City area eventually welcoming three children, Brenda, Brad, and Lori. They were members of the First Mennonite Church of Iowa City.

Alta was always a hard worker. In addition to caring for her home and family, she held a variety of housekeeping positions, and worked as a cashier and cake decorator at the Kalona Bakery branch in Iowa City. Alta also had a heart for service. She volunteered as an activity director at a care center, made baby quilts for the Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale, was active in the sewing group and kitchen committee at church, and volunteered weekly at the Crowded Closet Thrift Store from 1997-2020. She enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, and reading. She had a gift for hospitality and her love language was food. If you came to her house, you didn’t leave without eating.

Her family includes her three children, Brenda A. (Jeff) Troyer of Wooster, Ohio, Brad S. Widmer of Iowa City, Lori F. (Steve) Clark of Williamsburg; nine grandchildren: Alex Troyer, Katie Troyer, Ben Troyer, Nicole Widmer, Danielle (Blake) Weaver, Jake Widmer, Michelle (Cameron) Gauthier, Brad (Ashley) Clark, and Megan (Danny) Williams; and 11 great grandchildren: Murphy Troyer, Callum Troyer, James Miller, Jensen Weaver, Thea Weaver, Hadley Gauthier, Deaton Clark, Welles Clark, Elijah Williams, Angeleigh Williams, and Charlotte Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one great grandchild, Maxwell Clark; 13 siblings, John, Mary Bontrager, Barbara Bender, Ada, Omar, Levi, EJ, Leroy, Henry, Stanley, Ann Raber and two infant sisters.

A time of celebration of life and visitation will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 2-4 pm at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. A private family burial will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery prior to visitation.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Donations can be made online at https://uihc.org/childrens/ways-give-ui-stead-family-childrens-hospital or mailed to:

University of Iowa Center for Advancement, c/o UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Fund

PO Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550.

Messages and memories may be sent to the family at www.gayandciha.com.

Alta’s family would like to thank the staff at Highland Ridge in Williamsburg, IA for their compassionate care.