Miriam Joyce (Stevenson) Young

YOUNG, STEVENSON, KEMMANN, BUCKMAN, CALVERT, WEHRLE

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 3/6/2012 at 11:23:15

Born the youngest of four children of Frieda Kemmann and William Stevenson on October 4, 1922, in Blue Grass, Iowa, Miriam Joyce (Stevenson) Young died quietly on March 1, 2012, in Iowa City, after a long illness.

She graduated from Davenport High School in 1940, then worked at the Rock Island Arsenal office before marrying Jack I. Young on July 21, 1942, (he died July 25, 2009) and moved to the west coast while he served at Army Hospitals.

In 1945 they returned to Iowa to attend the University but soon went into business, first with Young’s (photography) Studio, expanding with a camera and art supply store. Later they started acquiring rental properties. Miriam was actively involved in all phases of the business’, photographed many weddings and children, and managing the rental properties, until illness forced her retirement.

Miriam always stressed the importance of education, hard work, and fun to her
children. With optimism, determination, and great intelligence, she took care of the family and business.

She worked quietly for fair housing beginning in the 1950’s in the area. She also enjoyed the activities in the United Methodist Women’s Circles.

Miriam is survived by her four children: Susan Young, Jack (Pam) Young of Iowa City, Rebecca (Michael) Buckman of Cedar Rapids, and Elizabeth Young (Charles) of Iowa City. Also survived by six grandchildren and three great-granddaughters: Leah (Ron) Calvert and daughter Nora Jane, Rachel (Ben) Wehrle and daughters Abigail and Gabriella, Nicholas and Zachary Young, Lorraine and Christopher Buckman. Her husband, parents, brothers Kenneth and Kermit, and beloved sister Myrna, preceded her.

She was the first girl to play trombone in her high school marching band and orchestra, and also played in the Quad Cities Symphony while still in high school. She loved classical music and opera all her life.

Miriam and Jack loved to travel, whether in their RV across North America, or abroad in much of the northern hemisphere. She made two trips to China including one in 1990; one of the first western groups after the Tiananmen Square episode of 1989.

Her optimism kept her smiling.