Louise Stiefel

Louise Stiefel, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Tuesday, October 3, 2006, at her home, following a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Thursday at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Funeral services will be held Friday at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Henry Ledbetter officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Oakland Mills Community Church and the First Baptist Church. Born August 27, 1923, in Rome, IA, Rebecca Louise was the daughter of Sheridan and Nora Ann McMillen Messer, Sr. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1941. On January 21, 1944, she married Warren L. Stiefel in Mt. Pleasant. He preceded her in death on September 10, 1983. Louise was a secretary for the Mt. Pleasant Community School District prior to working for the Great Rivers Co-op. She retired from the co-op in 1989 after 23 years of service. A nature lover, Louise especially enjoyed flowers and collected porcelain cardinals. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and making Christmas cookies plates. She attended the Oakland Mills Community Church for many years, where she was a member of the Oakland Mills Church Ladies Aid. She was a faithful member and held offices in Founder's Chapter Iowa A T.T.T., Order of the Eastern Star Bethlehem Chapter #38, the South Center Club, the James Harlan Chapter of DAR, the Henry County Nature Society (formerly Birdwatchers Club), Henry County Health Center Auxiliary and the South Center Township Cemetery Board. Mrs. Stiefel is survived by two daughters, Jan Chesher of Chesterfield, MO, and Phyllis Stiefel of Iowa City, IA; two grandchildren, Shane Chesher and his wife Kathy of Wentzville, MO, and Nicole and her husband Jared Reynolds of Columbia, MO; two brothers, Dwight Messer and his wife Frances of Keokuk, IA, and Joseph Messer and his wife June of Naperville, IL; and three sister-in-laws, Gertrude Lite of Fairfield, IA, Evelyn Vaughan of LaCanada, CA, and Mrs. Freddie Moore of Mt. Pleasant, IA. Louise is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Along with her husband, Mrs. Stiefel is preceded in death by four brothers, Milo Messer, Harold Vaughan, Virgil Vaughan, and Sheridan Messer, Jr.; and two sisters, Etna Sammons and Hillary Scarff.