Stewart, Eric Ray 1966-2015

STEWART, VER WOERT, REA, KLOUDA, RICHARDS, HAVENS, SCHUB, BOWIE, HOWELL, NIDA, DAVIS, FREE, HINSHAW, CONN, SIGMUND

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/5/2016 at 21:33:57

Eric Ray Stewart died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan, N.Y.

He was born Nov. 28, 1966, at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton. He was 49 years old when he passed away. He wished to be cremated and was also an organ donor.

Majestic Funeral Home arranged for cremation at the St. Michaels Crematory in East Elmhurst, N.Y. The funeral establishment was an All Faiths Burial and Cremation Service in St. Albans, N.Y.

Eric was the son of Richard F. Stewart Jr. and Martha C. (Ver Woert) Stewart. His siblings were Angela Stewart and Kelli Rea.

He graduated from Newton High School in 1985. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1990 mid-term with a degree in dance.

He loved to walk, music, tap dance and swim. He was an avid reader and collector. He was loved by many for he was a good listener and cared about people. When he was young, he enjoyed going to target practice with his dad down by the river.

The type of work done most of his working life was freelance. He took care of many people at the end of their lives. They were not just clients, but his friends.

A memorial supper was Dec. 12 hosted by a couple of friends at their apartment in Manhattan. Around 15 people or more showed up and didn’t know each other for he had worked with them and helped many people. A grab bag memento was given to each from what he collected as a remembrance for their friend. Each was introduced to his mother Martha and sister Angela. They in turn told how and when they met Eric. They were looking for a good friend.

He was preceded in death by his dad, Richard F. Stewart Jr.; and his grandparents Richard F. Stewart Sr. and Rose (Klouda) Stewart, Henry Ver Woert and Olive Fern (Hevlin) Ver Woert. Also an uncle Henry Glen Ver Woert; aunt Janet and uncle Wayne Richards; and a cousin Randy Richards; and uncle Joe Havens.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Martha Stewart; and sisters, Angela Stewart and Rob Schub and Kelli Rea and Don (Butch) Bowie; niece Tasha Howell and Jason Nida and their daughters Rylie Nicole and Gracie Marie Nida; and nephews Nathan Howell and Brad Howell. He is also survived by an aunt Shirley Havens; uncle Jim (Lloydena) Stewart; and many cousins, David Havens, Tony (Teri) Stewart, Tammy (Mark) Davis, Janis Lee (Mike) Free, Debbie (Tom) Hinshaw, Bryan Ver Woert, Roy Wayne (Sherry) Ver Woert, Julia (Dave) Conn and Jana (David) Sigmund; and many more relatives on both sides of the family.

A private family memorial will take place in the spring at Newton Union Cemetery.

Live on NY — NYS donate organ and tissue donor registry have let us know that his heart and kidneys were transplanted, and the organization will be in touch with our family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Salvation Army, The Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association and the America Cancer Society. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa 5 Jan 2016.