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Wilma Stephenson
WILMA KATHERINE STEPHENSON
Monticello
Wilma Katherine Stephenson, 95, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Monticello, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2016, at Keystone Place, Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 23, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Dr. T. Edwards Breed. Burial: Wayne Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Jones County.
Wilma is survived by her daughter, Roberta (Dan) Johnson of Marion; grandson, Bryan (Erica) Johnson of Portland, Ore.; great-grandson, Kayden Johnson of Portland, Ore.; nieces, Sheralyn (Dan) Lahr of Monticello, Norma Machacek of Cedar Falls, Peggy Harvey of Cedar Rapids, Beverly (Gene) Bordelon of Warrenville, Ill., and Nancy (Paul) Beaurline of St. Paul, Minn.; nephew, Charles (Kandy) Stephenson of Hudson, Wis.; sister-in-law, Charlotte Machacek of Cedar Rapids; and nephews-in-law, Mike Calloway of Marion and Tom Evans of Green Bay, Wis.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; sister, Arlene Miller; nieces, Lynette Calloway and Linda Evans; brothers-in-law, Charles Stephenson and George Machacek; and sister-in-law, Betty Stephenson.
Wilma was born Dec. 3, 1920, at the family home in Wayne Township in Jones County, the daughter of Herman and Eliza (Schuette) Hayen. She was baptized and confirmed at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello. Wilma attended public school through the eighth grade and immediately attended business college without going to high school. Wilma worked at Borden's Ice Cream Co. for seven years. On Sept. 12, 1948, in Monticello, she married Robert Louis Stephenson. Together, they farmed until retiring. Wilma was a 4-H leader and spent time on her families' genealogy. Wilma loved to travel. Together they visited several countries including France, Germany, England and Switzerland, with some being through her husband's Air Force reunions. In 2013, Wilma fulfilled a lifelong dream to cruise through the Panama Canal. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, playing cards, the Labor Day reunions and spending time with family and friends.
Memorials may be directed in Wilma's memory to Camp Courageous, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church or Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, all in Monticello.
Please share a memory of Wilma at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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