Sterba, Mary Lou

Mary Lou Sterba, 67, of West Branch, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at Crestview Nursing & Rehab Center from complications of ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. Funeral Services will begin Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Ed Fitzpatrick will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Iowa City.

Instead of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Mary Lou Sterba Memorial Fund.

Mary Lou was born March 15, 1946, in Iowa City, the daughter of John and Ginita (Kessler) Dalton. She graduated from Regina High School in 1964. On Aug. 7, 1965, Mary Lou married Robert Sterba. After many years and the birth of their three children, the couple divorced. For the past 18 years, Mary Lou has shared her life with her best friend, Ferral Gates.

She recently retired from the Coralville Ace Hardware Store.

Survivors include her children, Annette Barta (Bob) of Killeen, Texas, Jeff Sterba (Brenda) of North Liberty and Dan Sterba (Meredith) of Shawnee, Kan.; her best friend, Ferral Gates of West Branch; brothers and sisters, Margaret Dalton (Pat) of West Liberty, Judy Swart (Glen) of Washington, Iowa, John Dalton Jr. (Vicki) of Keota, Barb Dinsmore of Florida, Carol Waldschmidt (Rodney) of Iowa City and David Dalton (Kathy) of Florida; grandchildren, Tony Mahoney and Sam and Jessi Barta, Brynn Sterba and Cameron Sterba; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Linda; and her former husband, Robert Sterba.

Condolences may be sent to the family at .

Published Dec. 9, 2013 in The Gazette