Official Obituary of
Stella Louise Wahl
December 15, 1944 ~ November 19, 2011 (age 66) 66 Years Old
Stella Wahl Obituary
Stella Louise Wahl, of New London, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Park Place Care Center in Mt. Pleasant, from lung cancer, after a 9 month battle which she fought with grace and dignity. She was born December 15, 1944 in Burlington, Iowa. She was the daughter of Orville and Corrine (Bowman) Stewart. Her birth father was Robert Wahl. She attended Burlington High School until 1962, got her GED in New York in 1983 and received an Associate in Business Degree from Chaparral Career College in Tucson, AZ in 1988. She married Gerald "Jerry" Ingwersen in 1962. They later divorced. She lived several years in Tucson, AZ and also lived in upstate New York for a while, but returned for good to her home state of Iowa in 1999, as she wanted to be near her family.
She previously worked as a secretary, cab driver, and various other positions but since 1996, she was a full-time caregiver for her son who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a 1990 car accident. She enjoyed crochet, embroidery, flowers, crossword puzzles, facebooking, and spending time with her family. She had a gentle and quiet spirit. Though she had few material possessions and lived on a meager income, she always found a way to give to others, sharing from what she did have. In that spirit, immediately upon hearing of her cancer diagnosis which would result in hair loss, she donated her hair to the Locks of Love program which provides wigs for children going through cancer treatments. In addition, as her final act of giving, she donated her body to the University of Iowa College of Medicine for scientific study. In recent years, she found faith in Christ and is now safe in His presence.
Survivors include: daughter Brenda Ingwersen of Ames, daughter Bonnie Mears and husband Shawn, of New London and son, Thomas Ingwersen of New London; brother Danny Stewart and wife Shirley of Burlington, brother Jerry Stewart and wife Kathleen of Tucson, AZ, brother Terry Stewart of New London, and sister-in-law MaryLin Wahl of Burlington, IA; grandchildren Kurt Ryan and Reid Krabill of Mt. Pleasant, Tanner Krabill of Corona, CA, Lance Ingwersen of New London (currently military based in Augusta, GA), Scotty Helfrich of Howe, OK, Amanda Mears of New London, Jade Lyf Larese of Duncan B.C., Canada; step-grandchildren Arwen McAfee of Waverly, Corrine, Tina, Daniel and Adam McAfee all of Coralville; great-grandchildren Zeke and Leah Krabill, Elijah and Christian Ingwersen, Tucker Helfrich, and one more on the way. She is also survived by her special friend and former partner, Alex Meltzer of Tucson, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Connie Sue Ingwersen, a brother, Robert "Bob" Wahl, and a sister, Betty Calhoon.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at New London Christian Church at 1:00 pm with Pastor Monte Asbury officiating. The family will receive friends starting at noon. A meal will follow the service. Memorials to the family will be used to cover funeral expenses and to help take care of Stella's brain-injured son. Cremation and scattering of ashes will occur privately at a later date.
She previously worked as a secretary, cab driver, and various other positions but since 1996, she was a full-time caregiver for her son who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a 1990 car accident. She enjoyed crochet, embroidery, flowers, crossword puzzles, facebooking, and spending time with her family. She had a gentle and quiet spirit. Though she had few material possessions and lived on a meager income, she always found a way to give to others, sharing from what she did have. In that spirit, immediately upon hearing of her cancer diagnosis which would result in hair loss, she donated her hair to the Locks of Love program which provides wigs for children going through cancer treatments. In addition, as her final act of giving, she donated her body to the University of Iowa College of Medicine for scientific study. In recent years, she found faith in Christ and is now safe in His presence.
Survivors include: daughter Brenda Ingwersen of Ames, daughter Bonnie Mears and husband Shawn, of New London and son, Thomas Ingwersen of New London; brother Danny Stewart and wife Shirley of Burlington, brother Jerry Stewart and wife Kathleen of Tucson, AZ, brother Terry Stewart of New London, and sister-in-law MaryLin Wahl of Burlington, IA; grandchildren Kurt Ryan and Reid Krabill of Mt. Pleasant, Tanner Krabill of Corona, CA, Lance Ingwersen of New London (currently military based in Augusta, GA), Scotty Helfrich of Howe, OK, Amanda Mears of New London, Jade Lyf Larese of Duncan B.C., Canada; step-grandchildren Arwen McAfee of Waverly, Corrine, Tina, Daniel and Adam McAfee all of Coralville; great-grandchildren Zeke and Leah Krabill, Elijah and Christian Ingwersen, Tucker Helfrich, and one more on the way. She is also survived by her special friend and former partner, Alex Meltzer of Tucson, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Connie Sue Ingwersen, a brother, Robert "Bob" Wahl, and a sister, Betty Calhoon.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at New London Christian Church at 1:00 pm with Pastor Monte Asbury officiating. The family will receive friends starting at noon. A meal will follow the service. Memorials to the family will be used to cover funeral expenses and to help take care of Stella's brain-injured son. Cremation and scattering of ashes will occur privately at a later date.
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