Lucille Mabel (Ashby) STIERWALT

ASHBY, STIERWALT, RUCH, WHITE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/20/2008 at 12:58:15

Lucille Mabel Stierwalt, 87, was born on May 22, 1919, near Lacona to Schuyler and Mae Ashby. She passed away on Oct. 23, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Indianola, where she had resided since early May of this year. Lucille had suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by her husband, Ronald; daughter Lila (Ken) Ruch, of Indianola; son Jay Roger (Mary) of Knoxville; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Marlene (Kenneth) White of rural Chariton; many nephews and nieces; who knew her as "Aunt Pude" and a host of other relatives and friends.

As a small child, Lucille moved with her family to Marion County where she attended rural schools. Lucille and Ronald were married on June 10, 1939, at her parent's home near Melcher. The couple's first home was at Popejoy in Franklin County, where Ron was to teach Vocational Agriculture. This career in education took the couple to Leon, Centerville, Knoxville, and Osceola before deciding in 1947 to return to Ron's boyhood farm home near Newbern. Lila was born in Popejoy, Roger at Osceola. Lucille enjoyed the farm where she cared for her small children and a large lawn and garden. Flowers were her joy. She also took part in the many farm jobs, especially enjoying checking the new baby calves. She was a very loving and giving person, always putting others first in her life. She was never afraid to tackle the hard jobs and could do anything she set her mind to. She faithfully helped Lila with physical therapy before school every morning, for several years. She took loving care of her parents, with the help of her sister; when they needed extra care in their later years. She did the same for Ronald's parents and after they needed her no longer, she helped care for an elderly neighbor, Amy Norris until her passing. Lucille served many years as a 4-H leader, and helped prepare and serve food for the 4-H food stand for years. She gave Roger and Lila help in all their 4-H activities from sewing, baking, refinishing furniture to chasing calves and treating sheep maggots. She was very active in the Chariton First United Methodist Church helping to serve many a funeral dinner, the dinners for the Thrift Sale, the Rebecca Circle, and headed up the twice-annual Thrift Sale for several years. She was very committed to her church and would make a great effort to attend, even when her health made it difficult to do so. She took great pride in her volunteer work with the Red Cross Gray Ladies at the Knoxville Veterans Hospital in the late fifties and early sixties. She has been awarded two Mission Pins for her activities in the circles at the Chariton Church and the First United Methodist Church in Indianola, where Ron and Lucille moved in 1991. Soon after their move to Indianola she volunteered to help at Helping Hand, a church sponsored group distributing food, clothing and other items to needy families. She helped there two mornings a week for as long as her health allowed her.

A friend from the Chariton Church, Juanita Pirtle, wrote such a special letter about Lucille when she was nominating her for a Mission Pin, the family wanted to include this cute story, from that letter. Juanita worked at a local bank and she said one day she cashed an unusual check for Lucille; it was made out "To My Good Wife" and signed by her husband. Her greatest love was her family and she especially enjoyed playing with her grandchildren while they were growing up. She was a wonderful cook and loved preparing meals for family dinners and trying new recipes. Her family and friends dearly loved her and she will be greatly missed. A memorial service was held on Oct. 27 in the morning at the Gable Chapel of the First United Methodist Church in Indianola. A full service was held on Oct. 27 in the afternoon at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Burial was in the Chariton Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Chariton First United Methodist Church, the Indianola First United Methodist Church, the Alzheimer's Association or Hospice of Iowa.

Knoxville Journal Express, Iowa
November 10, 2006