John Stemlar

JOHN STEMLAR

Davenport

John S. Stemlar, 80, a resident of Coupeville, Wash., died peacefully in San Diego, Calif., on June 8, 2014, following a short illness. Funeral services and a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 417 N. Main St., downtown Davenport. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 16, at Halligan-McCabe-Devries Funeral Home, 614 N. Main St., Davenport.

John Sidney Stemlar was born July 20, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Sidney C. Stemlar and Blanche (Mullin) Stemlar. He graduated from Immaculate Conception (I.C.) High School in 1951. In high school, he was a stand-out basketball player; he played center and earned a place on the fourth team, All-State Iowa boy's basketball team. After high school, he spent one year at St. Ambrose College in Davenport before entering the U.S. Army, eventually being hon-orably discharged as a corporal. After serving in the military, he returned to Cedar Rapids, where he drove an ambulance while also playing AAU basketball for Lapes Florists and Sanitary Farm Dairies. Describing the astounding Lapes victory over the Davenport Brammer Rockets in the 1953 Iowa AAU title game, the Cedar Rapids Gazette stated: "Leading the comeback assault against the towering Davenport Club was a 6-2 1/2 former Immaculate Conception string bean, John "Sid" Stemlar. Although Sid gave up two inches in height to Davenport's two tallest stars, Cal Burnett and Leroy Watts, he overshadowed them with play that ranged from remarkable to downright incredible."

After retiring from AAU basketball, he married his junior high school sweetheart, Barbara Cramer, in 1955. He graduated from Coe College, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1957 and settled in to a lengthy and successful business career. After earning his certificate in public accounting in 1961, he joined the accounting firm of McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn & Company (now McGladrey), where he eventually became a partner.

During his time at McGladrey he served on the Bishop's Counsel of the Diocese of Davenport. In 1974, he joined Lee Enterprises, a Davenport-based newspaper and television conglomerate, serving as chief financial officer, secretary, treasurer and director. During his tenure at Lee, he also served as chairman of the board at NAPP Systems, a subsidiary of Lee Enterprises.

After retiring in 1987, he and his wife moved to Coupeville, Wash., where he pursued his passions of watching NBA basketball, rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes, gardening, fishing and boating while occasionally (but innocently) running afoul of local logging and wildlife authorities. He also could be found regularly enjoying the ocean view and reading a book at his home in Coronado, Calif.

More than anything, John will be remembered as a good husband, good father, good brother and good mentor and friend to many.

We will miss his generous, compassionate and outgoing personality and spirit.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 58 years, Barbara; his five children, Mike (Luann) Stemlar, Bettendorf, Tom Stemlar, Indianapolis, Kathy (John) Weigand, Denver, Colo., Sharon (Mark) Theuerkauf, Bettendorf, and Anne Stemlar, Boston, Mass.; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Patrick, Jack, Sidney, Grace, Max and Nick; a brother, Tom (Marlene) Stemlar, Milwaukee, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary (Stemlar) Stevenson.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Vibra Hospital, Shea Family Healthcare and the ICU unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital, all of San Diego, not only for their medical expertise and excellent care but for their kindness, sensitivity and support during these last several months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony's Care and Share Program and sent to St. Anthony's Church, 417 N. Main St., Davenport, IA 52801.

Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting John's obituary at www.hmdfuneral home.com.