Jill Marsh Horner Stephenson
STEPHENSON, HORNER, MARSH, HEID, VINSAND
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 7/19/2024 at 12:15:06
Jill Marsh Horner Stephenson, age 88, died July 17, 2024, at Windmill Manor, Coralville, after a brief illness. In keeping with her emphasis on education, Jill donated her body to the Deeded Body Program at The University of Iowa. The family plans to have a memorial gathering at a later date.
Jill was born February 4, 1936, in Iowa City IA to George and Virginia (Marsh) Horner. She attended the University school through eighth grade, then transferred to City High where she graduated in 1953. Jill continued her education at The University of Iowa as a chemistry major. She was in the first class of the University’s new Clinical Laboratory Science program and earned her BA in General Science and Medical Technology in 1958.
After graduation, Jill married Paul Stephenson and moved to Fort Dodge where she did lab work for Fort Dodge Laboratories and then for the Fort Dodge Medical Clinic. Paul and Jill adopted two children and raised them in Fort Dodge. In 1987, Jill divorced and moved back to Iowa City where she worked in The University of Iowa pathology department critical care lab until her retirement in 1999.
Known for her inquiring mind, Jill was a life-long avid reader and listened faithfully to Iowa Public Radio. She loved to learn and explore, and she participated in fifteen Road Scholar trips. A dedicated hiker and walker, Jill initiated the Senior Trailblazers Iowa City Hiking Group through the Senior Center—which continues to meet weekly. She was a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Society and, over the years, volunteered at many local organizations including: the Iowa City Public Library, UIHC OTO clinic, UIHC patient library, free lunch program, and Johnson County food bank (now CommUnity). Jill especially enjoyed monthly lunch gatherings of the City High class of 1953. She was also an enthusiastic Hawkeye and Cubs fan, and a lover of cats.
Jill is survived by her sister Joan Heid (California), son Bill (Lisa) Stephenson (Manson IA), daughter Michelle Stephenson (Fort Dodge IA), 9 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and great granddaughter Nora Vinsand.
If you wish to honor Jill with a donation, please consider giving to Iowa Public Radio www.ipr.org or the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center www.icanimalcenter.org.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen