Obituary of Virginia Ann Stahmer

Virginia A. “Jude” Stahmer, age 68 of Iowa City, died Friday, April 16, 2021, after a courageous fight with cancer. Virginia Ann Smith was born September 17, 1952, in Davenport, Iowa the daughter of Richard D. and Marilyn (Achey) Smith. Her family moved to Iowa City when she was a child from Tipton., She attended schools in the Iowa City District graduating from City High School with the Class of 1970. She then attended the University of Iowa for a number of years. On December 21, 1973, she married Lavern John Stahmer at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She spent the better part of her adult life as a babysitter to dozens of children. She loved each of these children so much. Later, many of those children would choose her to babysit their own children. It was a very sad day when she had to retire because of her health. She had a gift for blending family and friends, with many special friends being thought of as family, and family members also being cherished friends. She enjoyed knitting and hand quilting belonging to and was a past president of the Old Capital Capitol Quilt Guild. She also loved to watch Iowa PBS – cooking, traveling, NOVA and the British mysteries were among her favorites. Her family includes her husband, Vern; their daughter and her husband, Heather and Chad Foley; grandchildren, Rayne, Riviera and Ash; her mother, Marilyn Smith; Jude’s siblings, Connie R. Smith, Barbara Haynes (Allan), David Smith (Pam), John Smith, and Susan Smith; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; generations of her babysitting kids and 2 step-daughters, Cindy (Toby) Fetters and Amy (David) Beranek. She was preceded in death by her father, niece Michelle Smith and, nephews, Gerald and Travis Waters, and in-laws, Carolyn Stahmer, Mel Stahmer, Darlene and Jerry Waters. No public services are planned at this time. Her wishes were to have “her family, friends, and babysitting kids” all come together someday a little later to share the joy of Jude’s life with each other. This will be announced at a later date. She was treated at Mercy Iowa City Cancer Care. The family would like to thank Drs. Miller and Ashby and their staffs for their care. Jude would have loved for you to always spread kindness and do something you love in her memory. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.