She was the youngest of 5 children. During her 96 years on this earth she saw many things and experienced many changes. She definitely was a child from the depression era because “nothing went to waste” was a standard she lived by her entire life. The radio was her first contact with the outside world… from a rotary telephone with a party line…to a Smartphone she could carry in her purse listening to her “crooners” on the radio…to vinyl albums…to apps on her IPad. Her first TV had rabbit ears wrapped in foil and the kids had to change all 3 channels…to a SmartTV with hundreds of shows and a remote control.
Through all of these marvels that occurred in her lifetime, she always carried with her the sense and importance of family… that never changed.
On November 16, 1946 she was united in marriage to Lee A. Stanger (her high school sweetheart) in Davenport, Iowa. They were blessed to have spent 69 wonderful years together.
Gifts of life were her husband, 6 children; Stephen Stanger, Denise Harrison (Neil), Linda Edwards, Patricia Hammann (Allan), Jeffrey Stanger (Barbara), and Laura Hammann (Brian), 4 grandchildren; David Small (Kate), Katie Dohmen (Randy), Lucas Hammann and Riley Hammann, and 4 great-grandchildren; Finn, Kellen, Delaney and Nolan.
Her first life tragedy, she would say, was losing her firstborn son to leukemia when he was 10 and her second tragedy was the loss of her husband to Alzheimer’s at the age of 87. Life gave her many joys besides being a full time housewife and raising her children.
She loved gardening, reading, bird watching, sewing, shoe shopping, working puzzles, kicking butt playing Euchre, and watching the Packers win (mainly Aaron). Iva also volunteered in her community; ranging from a 4-H leader to food pantry distribution.
They cherished their early retirement years spent traveling the country with camper in tow. They finally settled spending winters in Florida and summers at a lake cabin in Wisconsin in hot pursuit of crappies.
Iva would say that she was lucky and had a long, blessed life…We would say that we love her and she is dearly missed.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
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