Marjorie D. “Marge” Stanek 1932 - 2017

STANEK, DEITERMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/19/2017 at 04:57:45

Sioux City Journal
23 May 2017

Marjorie D. “Marge” Stanek, 84, of Sioux City, went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 19, 2017. She passed away peacefully at her home.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, a rosary at 5 p.m., with family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a vigil service at 7 p.m., all at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.

Marge was born on Nov. 17, 1932, to John and Josephine Deiterman, on a farm in Le Mars, Iowa. She lived through the Great Depression and often shared the stories of her family's hardships. She attended a one-room country school south of Le Mars. The family moved to a farm in Sutherland, Iowa, in 1942, where she graduated from Sutherland High School in 1950. Marge graduated from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.

While in nurses' training, she met Joseph Stanek, and they were married on Sept. 26, 1953. Marge worked as a nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital through the 1960s. In 1968, Joe and his brother, Gene, opened the first Mr. Donut in Sioux City. Marge helped out while balancing the demands of home life with nine busy children. They added a second Mr. Donut, which eventually led to the ownership of the Hardee's restaurants. Suffering for many years, her beloved husband Joe died of heart failure in 1983. With faith, perseverance and an infinite amount of love, Marge continued to lead the family.

Marge had such a zest and energy for life that included frequent trips to Okoboji and fishing off the docks and taking trips with her grandchildren to Montana and Glacier National Park. She loved gardening, tending to the flower gardens at Queen of Peace. As she got older, she loved to travel on religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land and the Vatican. She had a great sense of humor and her grandchildren loved her famous French toast, singing of silly songs, playing Yahtzee and her delicious homemade bread. She had a unique ability to make every person feel like they were the most special person in the world.

Other than her family, Marge's biggest passion was her involvement in the Prolife Movement. Marge put her words into action. Starting in 1973, with the legalization of abortion, Marge worked tirelessly to spread the message of the sacredness and dignity of every human life. She was instrumental in the yearly ecumenical January Prolife Prayer Services. She was on the board of the Queen of Peace and was instrumental in creating the Circle of Life to promote prayers and healing for the unborn and their mothers. Always one to believe in miracles, it was not just a coincidence that on the day before her passing, Planned Parenthood of Sioux City announced it would be closing. Her prayers to end abortion here in Sioux City were answered.

Left to cherish and treasure her memories are nine children, Terry (Lyn) Stanek, Shawn (Suzanne) Stanek, Doug (Kathy) Stanek, Mark (Colleen) Stanek, Cathy (Jim) Martin, Tom (Janie) Stanek, Jim (Bridget) Stanek, Joe (Nicole) Stanek, and Brian (Mary) Stanek; grandchildren, Holli (Jeramiah) Bradshaw, Heather (Jon) Murad, Amber (Jason) Franco, Amanda (Forest) Dunham, Forest Schuldt, Katie (Brian) Sittig, Nicholas (Kory) Stanek, John Stanek, Daniel (Jenni) Stanek, Amanda (Kevin) Pottebaum, Ryan Stanek, Cassie Stanek, Whitney (Case) Henning, Jennifer (Ellis) Hugunin, Rebecca Stanek, Maria Stanek, Kara Martin, Luke Martin, Kyle Martin, Mariah Stanek, Sierra Stanek, Caleb Stanek, Emily Stanek, Ryelle Stanek, Joseph Stanek, Wyatt Stanek, Anthony Stanek, Kaydence Stanek, Owen Stanek, Olivia Stanek; 21 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sylvia Nikles, and Rosalind Lohberger; brother-in-law, Gene (Nancy) Stanek; sisters-in-law, Patty Stanek and Marjorie Haley.

She was preceded in death by husband, Joseph; grandchild, Christopher Martin; and brothers, Vincent and Ray Deiterman.

If there is one word or theme that would define the life of our Mother, it would be PRAYER. Mom knew that through prayer, all of God’s Blessings can be yours. Well done, Mom. Welcome Home.