Class Bulletin Board

In Memory of Arden Svoboda

Arden “Eddie” Svoboda let us know that Jane and Eddie’s father Aden passed away recently. Eddie gave us permission to share his father’s obituary as a tribute to his life.

Arden Svoboda

Arden E. Svoboda Sr., 87, longtime resident of Coralville, died at his home surrounded by his family Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Burial services with military honors will be held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville, followed by a gathering for family and friends to remember and share their Arden stories at the Moose Lodge in Iowa City On October 17th, with time to be announced. Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com.

Arden Edmund Svoboda was born September 8, 1928, in Prague, NE, the son of James S. and Emma M. (Krondak) Svoboda. Following graduation from high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force serving as a cook during the Korean Conflict. On November 27, 1952, he married Erma Jane Steyer in Tulsa, OK. The couple moved with their family to Coralville in 1960. Here Arden worked as an electrician for the Iowa City Community School District for nearly 35 years before retiring. Arden has always been good with his hands, from electrical work to carpentry skills, he could do anything he put his mind to. Which included donating his time and talents to many local charities and the Moose Lodge over the years. He was also a former member of the American Legion.

His family includes his four children, Elanda “Jane” Ahrens (William) of Montezuma, IA; Arden E. Svoboda Jr. (Carol) of Coralville; Robin S. Svoboda of Marion; and Kathrine Ferrie (Patrick) of Lakeville, MN; 18 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and his sister, Delia Story of Ft. Collins, CO. Arden was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Erma; grandson, Samuel Ahrens, 2 sisters and a brother.

In Memory of Heather Shank

Bonnie let us know that Leanne’s younger sister Heather passed away recently. Leanne gave us permission to share Heather’s obituary as a tribute to her life.

Heather Shank

Heather Lane Shank died at her home following a long illness on Thursday, August 6, 2015.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Heather’s life will be held at 6PM, Thursday, August 20th at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Heather was born on April 21, 1956 to James Ronald Shank and Ruth (Pinky) Beye in Iowa City, Iowa.

She graduated early from West High School in 1973. In 1980, Heather graduated from Saint Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and was a traveling nurse in New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, Reno, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, CA and Wharton, TX, but she worked the majority of her nursing career at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics until 1986. Heather was a graduate of the College of Law at the University of Iowa and worked for Kinnamon, Kinnamon, Russo and Meyer Law Firm. In August of 1994 Heather was hired by the City of Iowa City as the Human Rights Coordinator.

Heather had a compassionate approach to the protection of human rights and to anyone who faced discriminatory practices. As coordinator, Heather implemented policies to prevent discrimination in areas of sexual orientation, gender identity and challenged the discriminatory practice of bullying. Because of this, Iowa City became a model for other communities located inside and outside the state of Iowa that sought films or programs on human rights issues. Heather has received numerous honors in the past, including the City’s own Human Rights Award (2002), the Iowa City Pride Committee Legacy Award (2005), and the annual Friends of Iowa Civil Rights Award (2005), among others. She was to receive the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Iowa City Human Rights Commission which, has been since been named to the Heather Shank Lifetime Achievement Award, in October 2015. Heather retired from her position as Human Rights Coordinator in December 2005 due to her illness.

Heather’s passion was to give voice to the powerless, and to fight human right abuses. She practiced this at work and in life. She was an avid reader and loved talking about books until she could no longer see well enough to read. She also enjoyed going to movies and out to dinner, especially Joseph’s, with her friends and family. Heather, being primarily confined to her home, enjoyed identifying birds and making her back yard a bird sanctuary.

Survivors include two sisters; Brigitte Sliger (Wayne Sliger) of Iowa City; Leanne Bissell of Bloomington, Indiana, four nieces; Madeline, Olivia, Stephanie and Shanetta, three nephews, Jordan, Caleb and Gabriel, her grandfather Floyd Vesely and three grandnieces and three grandnephews. Survivors also include Heather’s many treasured and beloved friends. Heather was preceded in death by her parents, James and Ruth (Pinky) Shank, her maternal grandparents and paternal grandmother.

Deb and Kim Persons’ 20-40-60 Party

Deb and Kim’s daughters threw them a 20, 40, 60 party this summer:

  • 20 years in each of their careers
  • 40 years anniversary of marriage
  • 60 years of life on the planet

Deb also hosted a “Big Six Oh Party” for any and all of the Women of Troy who share the same number of years on earth.

Persons’ 20-40-60 Party

Deb had a great turnout, and here is who attended:

Back row from left to right:
Deb Nortmann Tyer, Jackie Dague Nicholson, Mary Kay (Gorius) Kray, Sara Muller, Brenda (Schrock) Bradley, Karen (Peak) Lenth, Laura (Reddick) Hershberger

Middle row from left to right:
Deb Persons, Deb Dee, Karen Villhauer Michalec

Front row:
Bonnie Weldon, Katie Collins Bretz

Nancy (Masbruch) Olinger Update

Carla Blaug was back from San Diego after losing her husband last December. Janet Gregory was back as her father just died and the memorial is Monday in Coralville. You may share that. Kathy Murphy drove over from the Ames area just to see us. Carla is staying at Sue’s in Dubuque. We met in Mt Vernon at the Palisades Cafe. Great place to eat. Was a fun visit. Glad the photo came through for you.

Nancy (Masbruch) Olinger, Carla (Blaug) Kestler, Art Bailey Murray and his wife Deb, Sue (Davison) Haigh, Janet Gregory, and Kathy (Murphy) Debruyn.

In Memory of Norma Stasi

Pat Vaughan let us know that Mark Stasi’s mother Norma passed away recently. Mark gave us permission to share Norma’s obituary as a tribute to her life

Norma Stasi

Norma J. Stasi of Iowa City, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Mercy Hospital – Hospice Care Unit.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Coralville with Father Walter Helms. Visitation was held Tuesday, June 23, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. Burial took place at St. Joseph Cemetery, Iowa City.

Norma was born on May 5, 1931 at her farm house in Buchanan County, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Buena Belle (Marshall) Miller. She graduated from Stanley High School in Aurora and the University of Northern Iowa with a teaching certificate in 1952. Norma was united in marriage to John D. Stasi on August 7, 1954 in Oelwein, Iowa. They moved to Iowa City in 1964 and opened the Burger Palace. Later in life she was a realtor for Ambrose & Associates Realtors.

Norma was a devout Catholic and loving mother. The most important thing in her life was taking care of her family. Norma was an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.

Norma is survived by her husband, John; seven children: Mark (Renee) Stasi of Littleton, Colorado, John (Lori) Stasi of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Ann (Steve) Phillips of Lake Forest, Illinois, Amy (Bob) Forte of Batavia, Illinois, Matthew (Kristi) Stasi of Austin, Minnesota, Jennifer (Dennis) Beaver of Post Falls, Idaho, and Jacqueline (Matthew) Kienzle of St. Charles, Illinois;

She is survived by sixteen grandchildren: Jared (Meredith) Stasi, Nick Stasi, Erin (Austin) Holst, Chris (Laci) Stasi, Andrew ‘Louie’ Stasi, Stephen and Michael Phillips, Austin, Zoe, and Sydney Forte, Courtney (Zach) Lundquist, Jordan and Lauren Stasi, Dillion and Corey Beaver, and Drake Kienzle; and one sister, Delma (Don) Derflinger of Aurora, Iowa.

Norma is preceded in death by her father, Ralph Miller; her mother, Buena; and her sister, Dorothy Welsh.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the COPD Foundation.

In Memory of Christy Maxwell McGinty

Patty (Kennedy) McBride let us know that Paul Maxwell’s sister Christy passed away recently. Paul gave us permission to share Christy’s obituary as a tribute to her life.

Christy Maxwell McGinty

Christy Maxwell McGinty passed away Monday, June 1, 2015 at home after dealing with breast cancer with her usual sweet grace and good humor.

Christy was born January 12, 1951, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John R. Maxwell in Iowa City, IA. She graduated in the first class at West High School in 1969 and completed studies in medical technology at the University of Iowa in 1973. Christy married Dean Leslie McGinty in 1974 and lived in Charleston, SC; Muscatine, IA; Edmond, OK; and finally Portland, OR, where she worked as a medical technologist for 20 years, most recently with Kaiser Permanente. Christy was widowed in 1995. Last year, she retired and returned to Iowa to join her high-school friend, Bob Slotterback, in Cedar Rapids where she enjoyed her Master Gardener training. Christy shared her love of family, walking, and all things nature and her thoughtful curiosity with all those who knew her.

She is survived by her father, John Maxwell; two sons, Mitch McGinty of Phoenix, AZ and Rob McGinty of Bellefonte, PA; sister Carol Gorman of Cedar Rapids; two brothers, Paul Maxwell of Arlington, VA and Steve Maxwell of Dubuque, IA; and four grandchildren.

Christy’s family thanks the caring staff at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, especially Dr. Leila Kutteh and Traci Ridgeway, and the loving caregivers at Mercy Hospice.

A memorial service was held for Christy on June 13th at 1 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Christy’s name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Deb Gardner 60th Birthday Bash

Bonnie Tappan Weldon and Deb Gardner Persons will be hosting a

60th BIRTHDAY BASH

for all of the 1973 West High Ladies at Deb Gardner Persons’ house on Sunday, August 9th !!!!

The address is 727 14th Ave Coralville, Iowa.

The party starts at 2 pm.

We are asking the ladies to please bring a snack or appetizer to share. There will be no RSVP required. Ladies may contact us on Facebook or email if they have questions.

SO PLEASE -COME AND HELP US CELEBRATE!