Irene Margaret Stauter

Irene Stauter, age 96 of Fonda, Iowa passed away on July 16, 2014 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Mahaney Funeral Home in Fonda is in charge of the arrangements. Irene, daughter of Edward and Catharine (Lampe) Quinn was born on July 12, 1918 in Pocahontas, Iowa. After graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and Buena Vista College, she enjoyed teaching in the country schools from 1937 – 1949. On February 24, 1949 she married Earl Louis Stauter at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa. They made Fonda their home. Irene was a busy farm wife and mother of four children. After her children were raised, Irene followed her dream of becoming a nurse. She earned her nursing degree in 1981 at the age of 68 and then worked at the Fonda Care Center and as a private care nurse in many homes in the Fonda and Storm Lake area. Irene was a dedicated caregiver and truly enjoyed this career. Irene was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Watching her grandchildren grow up gave her much joy. Children always brought a smile to her face. Irene was a dedicated member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Holy Family Society, and the OLGC Catholic Daughters of America. Through the years she treasured spending time with her family, her six sisters (Mary, Rose, Catherine, Benita, Bernice, Lucille) and their families. She enjoyed having coffee and playing cards with her good friends and neighbors when she wasn’t gardening, sewing, baking and hauling meals to the field. Irene also enjoyed taking night classes in handwork, crocheting, sewing and painting. Irene knew the power of prayer and set aside time every day for her rosary and stack of daily prayers. She was a generous woman with a kind and caring heart and a strong soul. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Louis (Shirley) Stauter of Fonda, Iowa; Judy Stauter of Greeley, Colorado; Earlene (Karl) Christensen of Elk Horn, Iowa; Greg (Pat) Stauter of Fonda, Iowa; 10 grandchildren: Jason Stauter, Jeremiah (Jill) Stauter, Miranda (Matt) Madsen, Travis Stauter Huse, Audrey (Ricardo Yunis) Stauter Huse, Krystal (Jeremy) Wells, Kayla (Adam) Sander, Kelly (Seth) Franck, Bob (Jessica) Stauter, Matthew (Abby) Stauter; 13 great-grandchildren; sister Lucille Hamilton and brother-in-law Ed Hamilton, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl; grandson, Michael; her sisters and brothers in law Mary and Sebo Johnson, Rose and August Egertsen, Catherine and Clarence Niermeyer, Benita and Melvin Wile, Berniece and Marlyn Wells, Merle and Darlene Stauter, Margaret Stauter, Roy and Jean Stauter; and nephews Dr. Robert Stauter, Milton Wile and Scott Hamilton. Irene will be especially remembered for her strong devotion to her family, faith and friends. We would like to thank the Fonda Nursing and Rehab Center and the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for their loving care and support.

Irene Margaret Stauter

July 12, 1918 - July 16, 2014