- Date Of Birth: June 6, 1945
- Date Of Death: January 3, 2015
- State: California
We Remember Sheila Ann Powell
Sheila Ann Duhnke was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 6,1945 to George Walter and
Elizabeth Lillian Duhnke. She was the eldest of two children. She had a brother Dale Duhnke.
At the age of three Sheila’s mother took the firm position that she would not spend another
winter in Wisconsin. So in 1948 the Duhnke family bought a trailer, hitched it to their car and
headed to Sunny California. Sheila’s brother happily remembers their colorful childhood. They
would often ride their bike around town. Sheila even taught Dale how to ride their family’s goats.
Dale still affectionately remembers the time he took a candy bar without paying for it. Once
caught by the store manager Sheila ran home for the five cents to pay the store so her brother
would not get into trouble.
opened called Disneyland. Dale recalls Sheila’s excitement as they drove past orange grove
after orange grove when suddenly the white tip of the Matterhorn roller coaster appeared above
the trees. What a wonderful day they had, as “sis” and little brother ran from ride to ride. They
even saw the great Walt Disney himself.
Sheila went to El Monte High School. There she reconnected with a childhood friend she had
met on a Sunday school bus. That person was Jim Powell who would later become her husband
and was the love of her life. All through high school Sheila and Jim remained sweethearts.
Sheila graduated on June 12, 1963. Three days later she married Jim Powell on June 15, 1963.
A beautiful marriage of fifty-one years. Sheila became a mother in 1964 to daughter Terri.
Sheila’s second child Eric was born in 1967. Eric lived only a few precious hours. For Sheila and
Jim this was a tremendous loss. Sheila’s heart was again uplifted when in 1969 third child Rick
was born and joined their family. As a family one of their most valued memories was a vacation
spent together on a houseboat they had rented, fishing and water skiing. Jim admits that after
failing to stand up on his first attempt at skiing that Sheila showed her athletic skills by standing
her first time out. That vacation proved to be a magical moment within their family. In addition to
being a wonderful wife and mother, Sheila also maintained a career working at Bank of America
for forty years and one day, until her retirement in 2012. Becoming a “Lady of Leisure”, Sheila
loved traveling having been to Europe twice, Alaska and Hawaii.
Sheila is survived by her husband of fifty-one years Jim Powell, daughter Terri Ann Hart
and her husband Greg Hart. Her son Rick Alan Powell. Her grandchildren Kymberly White,
Andrew White, Patricia Hart and Victoria Ann Marie Powell. Great-grandchildren Katryna Vivot,
Kaytlynne Vivot, Bryanna Vivot and Frankie Vivot. Her brother Dale Duhnke and his wife Mary
Duhnke. Her niece Jennifer Duhnke and nephews Darren Duhnke and Brian Duhnke, and
countless friends.
Sheila was the type of person you can’t help but to miss. Her smiles, warmhearted words of
wisdom, patience and yes, even those well-known beautiful sweaters that she always wore,
have left a lasting impression on all who came to know her.
Sheila will be missed as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend because when she
smiled, she smiled with her heart.
