Stahl, Bess M. (Aug. 9, 1903 - Mar 6, 1983)

STAHL, KLEVER, GOODMAN, HEITSHUSEN, SLAYMAKER, KLEINMEYER

Posted By: Deb Bennett-Jónsson (email)
Date: 6/24/2010 at 16:41:13

Newspaper: The Newspapers of Iowa County
Posted: Thurs., March 10, 1983

Services For Bess M. Stahl, 79, Were Tuesday

Services for Bess M. Stahl, 79, Williamsburg, were held at 10 am, Tuesday, March 8, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Williamsburg with the Rev. A. Harold Sparks officiating.

Mrs. Stahl died unexpectedly at her home early Sunday morning, March 6, 1983, of an apparent heart attack.

Church organist Annette (Mrs. David) Kruse accompanied the soloist, Helen (Mrs. Robert) Menary, Williamsburg. Selections were “How Great Thou Art” and “In the Garden.”

Caring for the flowers were the Gaston Phillips’ and the Owen R. Jones’ Williamsburg.

Burial was in Pilot Grove cemetery, Pilot Township, Iowa County, southwest of Williamsburg. Casket bearers were nephews George Stahl, Everett Welsh, Williamsburg; Verlyn Stahl, Paxton, Neb.; and cousins Alfred Klever, Donald A. Lortz, both Williamsburg; Lloyd Klever, Marengo.

Bess Mae Stahl was born in English Township, Iowa County, near North English, Aug. 9, 1903, the daughter of Daniel and Lena Klever Goodman. She attended the Gehry rural school, English Township and was a 1922 graduate of Williamsburg high school.

On Oct. 29, 1924, she was married to Merlin O. Stahl at the Ohio Methodist church, near Ladora, by the Rev. McCain. They lived on a farm in Pilot township until retirement when the moved to Williamsburg in January 1955.

She was a lifetime member of the Methodist church and joined St. Paul’s united when they moved to town. She was a member of the United Methodist Women’s society and in 1979 received special recognition in the membership of the UMW.

She was also a member of the XYZ, New Century and Modern Priscilla clubs. She enjoyed doing things for her children and their families as well as gardening and working with her many houseplants and in her flowering gardens.

Surviving are two daughters, Cleo (Mrs. Gordon) Heitshusen, rural South Amana; Maralyn (Mrs. Thomas) Slaymaker, rural Williamsburg; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Holly K. Kleinmeyer.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a son, Lorren D. Stahl, who died Jan. 19, 1965; her husband, Merlin, Dec. 4, 1980; a grandson, Jay Slaymaker, 5 months, October 1962; and three brothers, Carl, Ivan and Orville.