Mrs. JOHN J. (Evelyn M. Neese) STOKESBERRY 1908 - 2003

MEIGHAN, NEESE, STOKESBERRY, HEIDERSCHEIT, PFAB

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/11/2003 at 20:39:45

Evelyn M. Stokesberry

Telegraph Herald - Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Mrs. John J. (Evelyn M.) Stokesberry, 95, of Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque, formerly of 2134 Broadlawn St., died at 4:31 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2003, at the care center.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery, Otter Creek, Iowa. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be the parish wake service at 4:30 p.m., and the Dominican Laity will recite the rosary at 6 p.m.

She was born on Jan. 12, 1908, in New York City. She was admitted to the New York Foundling Hospital on Jan. 20, 1908. She subsequently traveled to Des Moines on the Orphan Train, where she was adopted by Joseph and Anna (Meighan) Neese.

Evelyn graduated from North High School in Des Moines in 1924, and was employed as a clerk-typist for the Des Moines School District for two years. She then attended the State University of Iowa, graduating in 1930, where she was a member of Theta Phi Alpha National Sorority and Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board and Eta Sigma Phi honorary societies.

She taught English and Latin at Maquoketa High School from 1930 to 1934.

Evelyn married John J. Stokesberry on June 26, 1934, in Des Moines; he preceded her in death on April 24, 1957. They farmed in the Otter Creek and Fulton areas for several years. Her family moved to Cascade in 1952.

From 1958 to 1968, she was a social worker for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese, primarily in the field of adoptions. She served several years on the Dubuque County School Board, representing Cascade, until 1964, when she moved to Dubuque. From 1968 to 1991, she was a representative of World Book-Childcraft.

She was a member of St. Anthony's Parish and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Dubuque. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Cascade and in Dubuque, a member of the Dubuque Literary Council, Birthright and the Dominican Laity.

Surviving are a daughter, Mary Anne (Gerald) Heiderscheit, of Onalaska, Wis.; three sons, James J. (Judith) Stokesberry, of Remsen, Iowa, Michael L. (Diane) Stokesberry, of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Robert W. (Mary) Stokesberry, of Tinley Park, Ill.; and 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret Anne, at birth on Sept. 2, 1935; a son, Daniel Stokesberry, on Dec. 29, 1996; and a daughter-in-law, Lucille (Pfab) Stokesberry, on Aug. 6, 1998.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Anthony's Church, 1870 St. Ambrose St., Dubuque, Iowa 52001; Birthright, 1086 Main St., Dubuque, Iowa 52001 and Hospice of Dubuque, 2255 Kennedy Road, Dubuque, Iowa 52002.

The family wishes to thank Stonehill Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque for their care and concern for Evelyn.