SHERBURNE, Jean Candlish (Stevenson) 1910-2005
SHERBURNE, STEVENSON, GORDON
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 8/19/2014 at 23:44:04
[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Monday, July 11, 2005]
WATERLOO - Jean Candlish (Stevenson) Sherburne, 94, /died July 9, 2005, in the Health Center at Friendship Village, 600 Park Lane, Waterloo, after a yearlong illness with cancer.
She was born at her parents home on Independence Avenue on Sept. 18, 1910, to Henrietta Gordon (Coughtry) Stevenson and Oliver Stevenson.
Her father, Oliver Stevenson, emigrated from Ireland as a young man. She remembers his telling Irish stories to the family every night. She was very proud of her Irish heritage. Her mother, of Scots-Irish descent, moved from a pioneer farm near Winthrop to Waterloo at the age of 5.
Jean was a 1928 graduate of West Waterloo High School. She then attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she graduated in 1932 with a major in piano and a minor in organ performance. She did further graduate work at the University of Michigan.
After college she returned to Waterloo. Music continued to play a large part in her life. She taught piano and organ, played as church organist at several churches and finally succeeded her mother as church organist at First Presbyterian Church. Her mother played at the church from 1906 to 1946 and Jean followed her, playing until 1960. She continued to play for many weddings and funerals until she was in her mid-70s. Even in her final year, when she had to use a walker to get around, she played the organ daily for her fellow residents of Friendship Village.
She married Robert Sherburne on Sept. 2, 1938, at First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. He died in 1985.
During World War II, she managed Murphy Jewelry for her husband while he was overseas in the Army. After he returned she continued, keeping the books until the store was sold in 1982.
She had diverse interests. Writing was a lifelong passion. She kept a journal and wrote childrens stories, but she was best at poetry and received statewide recognition on more than one occasion by winning the Iowa Poetry Associations Light Verse competition. She remembers writing poetry as a young child when her mother would have to help her spell some of the words. Some poems were published by magazines with national circulation, including Good Housekeeping.
Other interests were close friends, picnics, crossword puzzles, making pies and plum jam, teaching her granddaughters to bake cookies, planting a garden, trips to the woods to gather walnuts in the fall, walks, phonology and frequent drives into the countryside to observe nature. An avid bird-watcher, she kept yearly lists of birds seen and was always on the lookout for birds not yet seen. Some birds were not seen but were identified by their call. Coupled with this was an interest in preserving natural habitat and protecting other animals for future generations.
She became a confirmed member of the First Presbyterian Church at about age 9. A strong faith sustained her, and the church was a major focus of her life. She participated fully in its activities. She was among the first women allowed to become an elder. At the time of her death, she had been a member of the church for 86 years — the longest attending member.
Memberships included Ladies Musical Improvement, PEO Chapter Z, Pen Women of Iowa, Sewing Club and the American Guild of Organists.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother; husband, Robert Ralph Sherburne; and brother, Robert Gordon (Jeanette) Stevenson.
Survivors include sons, Alan (Nancy) Sherburne of Iowa City, Stephen (DalLynn) Sherburne of Toledo, and Philip (Claudia) Sherburne of Plymouth, Minn.
Grandchildren are Ann (Chad) Trench of Minneapolis, Jeanie (Joel) Hilgenberg of Iowa City, David of Iowa City, Katherine (Dennis) Kitzman of Waterloo, Robert (Leanne) of Waterloo, Daniel (Kate) of Plymouth, Minn., and Paul (friend Elizabeth) of Minneapolis. Stepgrandchildren from the Boerm family are Dallas, Devin, Dirk and Dustin, all of Toledo. Pepper also survives.
She will be remembered for her love of her family, her quiet but strong faith and her gentle way.
The family would like to thank the staff at Friendship Village and Cedar Valley Hospice for their kind support in the last days. Also treasured by her and by her family were the supportive notes and visits by her friends.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Katharine G. Pahl Chapel at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery, where friends may call from noon until services. Burial will be in the cemetery. Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, an Overton Family Service, Waterloo, (319) 232-3235, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, the Friendship Village Foundation, the Cedar Valley Hospice, the Waterloo Food Bank or to an organization of donors choice.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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