Earle Charles Stellwagen

STELLWAGEN, CHARLSON, MATHAIS, GEUTHER

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 3/6/2026 at 06:35:07

Earle Charles Stellwagen passed away in his sleep on January 28, 2026 at the age of 92 at the University of Iowa Hospital, where he was recovering from hip surgery.

Earle was born June 14,1933 in Joliet, Illinois, and initially grew up in Chicago before moving to the small town of Mokena, Illinois. He commuted by train from Mokena to Joliet to attend high school and Joliet Junior College, spending the time on the train playing euchre and cribbage with other students. Earle was the first member of his family to attend college, obtaining a BS degree from Elmhurst College in 1955. He then pursued graduate work in biochemistry, earning a Master’s degree from Northwestern University (1958) and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (1963).

After a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institut fur Biochemie in Vienna, Austria, he joined the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa, where he taught biochemistry from 1964 to 2004. These varied experiences developed an enduring appreciation for travel, food and wine, and Earle (together with his wife Nancy) traveled widely. He also had a strong appreciation of the outdoors, gardening, visiting national parks with his family, hunting for geodes in southern Iowa, and canoeing with friends. He also continued doing scientific research well into his retirement, a joint activity shared with Nancy. During the pandemic, they moved from their long-time residence near Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City to the Summit in Coralville, Iowa, where he particularly enjoyed playing cards with other residents.

Earle is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nancy (Charlson), two sons, John, currently living in California and David, currently living in Montreal, Canada, and a granddaughter, Svea (also of Montreal). Earle was preceded in death by his parents, Earle Mathais Stellwagen and Olive Geuther, and two children, Anne (1964-2016) and Michael (1972-1988).

Visitation will be held from 1-2:00 pm on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with a service to follow at 2:00 pm. Private interment will be held at Oakland Cemetery.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen