Zelma L. Downing

Zelma L. Downing, 82, of Sioux City died Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. James United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ryan Christenson officiating. Burial will be 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Clair Cemetery in Ute, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Zelma was born May 17, 1929, in Ute, the daughter of Henry and Bessie (Tyler) Freerking. She graduated from high school in Ute. She attended business school in Omaha, Neb. She married James A. Downing on Oct. 2, 1948, in Sioux City. Zelma worked in the credit department at Sears, sold real estate with her husband at Downing Realty and was a bookkeeper at the family restaurant, Downing's House of Pancakes, when she retired at 62. She was a member of St. James United Methodist Church. In her free time, she loved to sew, decorate, do crafts, go to rummage sales and go camping with the family. She always had a great love of dogs. Zelma's greatest joy was spending time with her grandkids. Survivors include three sons, Michael Downing of Dakota Dunes, Paul (Kathy) Downing of Sioux City and Jeffrey Downing of Sioux City; a daughter, Jeanne (Efren Jr.) Bata of Sioux City; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers and six sisters. Memorials may be directed to St. James United Methodist Church.