Noel, Stephen Herman (1957-2007)

NOEL, SPAINHOWER, JONES, WILLIAMS, MITTELSTAEDT

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2008 at 10:40:39

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, October 25, 2007

Dr. Stephen Herman Noel, 49, of Dakota Dunes died peacefully Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at his residence following a year-long illness with colon cancer.

Stephen Herman Noel was born Nov. 17, 1957, in Peoria, Ill., the son of Lee and Mary Spainhower Noel. In his years of growing up, he lived in Normal, Ill., and Deerfield, Ill., eventually settling with his family in Iowa City. He graduated from City High School in Iowa City in 1976. He attended Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., graduating summa cum laude in 1980 with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry. It was there he met his future wife, the former Elisabeth Jones, and they were engaged at the close of their senior year. Steve was accepted into medical school at the University of Iowa that fall and he and Beth were married the following summer on Aug. 8, 1981, in Rockford, Ill.

He graduated from medical school in 1984 and served as a pathology extern through December 1984. He and Beth fulfilled a wish to serve others when they traveled to Sierra Leone, West Africa as medical missionaries with the Wesleyan Church of America through April 1985. In July 1985, Steve began his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which he completed in June 1990. He worked as an orthopedic surgeon in a private practice in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., on the shores of Lake Superior until he joined Northwest Iowa Orthopedics, Sioux City, in January 1992. He remained with the practice and his leadership contributed to crafting it into a state of the art facility known as the Center for Neurosciences, Orthopaedics and Spine.

Steve was a swimmer and football player in his years at City High. He swam for Augustana College and was a member of the Gamma Alpha Beta fraternity. He served as president of the Representative Assembly and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. At the University of Iowa, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical fraternity. He was selected as chief resident during his final year of residency at the University of Wisconsin.

He was a member of the Woodbury Medical Society, the Iowa Orthopaedic Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the North American Spine Society. He developed the bone craft system of cutting bone grafts and received a patent for the device in November 2003.

Steve and Beth and their sons are members of Sacred Heart Parish, Sioux City.

In spite of all of Steve's achievements throughout the years, his top priorities were his family, his practice of medicine, and his patients. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father and friend. He was truly humbled to be able to use God's gifts to help others and considered it a privilege. When he had a chance, he pursued his hobbies of hunting and fishing and was able to share those passions with his boys. He was equally at home in an operating room, tree stand, duck blind, fall cornfield or fishing boat.

He had a true love of sport and was an avid Cubs fan and faithful supporter of Headid baseball, Stars baseball, Heelan baseball and golf and Siouxland Youth Hockey. He was active with his son Drew's Boy Scout Troop 100 and in his final days was able to see him earn the rank of Life Scout.

To say Steve will be missed on earth is an understatement, but his greatest goal was to be welcomed into eternity by his Lord and Savior. He faced his disease with courage and used it to make himself a better person and to be an example for his sons. He had a servant's heart and carried his cross gracefully and purposefully. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Steve is survived by his wife, Beth; his sons, Lee William, Andrew Paul and Louis Herman; his parents, Lee and Mary of North Liberty; a brother, Michael (Mary) of Iowa City; sisters, Mary Lee (John) Williams of Cedar Rapids, and Patrice (John) Mittelstaedt of Clemson, S. C.; nieces, Hilliary Williams, Kate Noel and Marlow Mittelstaedt; nephews, Todd Noel, John Williams and Matthew Mittelstaedt; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Visitation will resume 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Pallbearers will be Tim Heuermann, Jim Heuermann, Pat Coyle, George Coyle, Dan Coyle, Mike Coyle, Ron Noel, Dale Noel, Leon Noel, Jon Maushard, Jerry Maushard and Joe Maushard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools Future Heelan Building Fund, Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the charity of your choice.