Obituary for Mary Luise Stumm
Mary was born in Worthington, Minnesota to Chester and Erna Eikenberry on August 25th 1942. The family lived in several communities in Minnesota and South Dakota. The move to Mitchell, South Dakota lasted many years and she graduated from Mitchell High School in 1960. Her school years continued at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and she graduated in 1964 with a degree in Elementary Education.
She was married to Gaylord Stumm of Mitchell on June 15, 1963. Following marriage, they lived for a brief time in Sioux Falls and Brookings, South Dakota. However, childhood trips to both the Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park kindled a desire to someday live in the mountains. In 1965, they packed their belongings and moved to Laramie, Wyoming where Gaylord had a teaching assistantship in the Business College at the University of Wyoming. Mary put her education degree to work and taught in the Laramie school system while her husband obtained an additional degree. She loved her students and was loved by them in return. She continued in this career until the birth of their son David in 1968.
Another move came in 1969. Her husband was teaching in the Business College at the University of Wyoming but they decided that a shift to a career in accounting might make raising a family a bit easier. This led to a move to Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Daughter Amy joined the family in 1976. Mary continued in the most important job as homemaker for the family. She did return to her career in education as the children grew older, but could not continue as the Parkinson’s Disease advanced.
She was preceded in death by her parents and older brother Dennis. She is survived by her husband Gaylord, younger brother Ron (Nita), children David (Liz), Amy (Todd), grandchildren Natasha, Dylan, Devon, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary loved the mountains and she also loved hummingbirds. She was happy when the birds came in the spring and sad when they left to escape the Colorado winters. Her family is sure that she is now in a place of peace and joy where hummingbirds always fly.
Donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or the charity of your choice.
She was married to Gaylord Stumm of Mitchell on June 15, 1963. Following marriage, they lived for a brief time in Sioux Falls and Brookings, South Dakota. However, childhood trips to both the Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park kindled a desire to someday live in the mountains. In 1965, they packed their belongings and moved to Laramie, Wyoming where Gaylord had a teaching assistantship in the Business College at the University of Wyoming. Mary put her education degree to work and taught in the Laramie school system while her husband obtained an additional degree. She loved her students and was loved by them in return. She continued in this career until the birth of their son David in 1968.
Another move came in 1969. Her husband was teaching in the Business College at the University of Wyoming but they decided that a shift to a career in accounting might make raising a family a bit easier. This led to a move to Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Daughter Amy joined the family in 1976. Mary continued in the most important job as homemaker for the family. She did return to her career in education as the children grew older, but could not continue as the Parkinson’s Disease advanced.
She was preceded in death by her parents and older brother Dennis. She is survived by her husband Gaylord, younger brother Ron (Nita), children David (Liz), Amy (Todd), grandchildren Natasha, Dylan, Devon, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary loved the mountains and she also loved hummingbirds. She was happy when the birds came in the spring and sad when they left to escape the Colorado winters. Her family is sure that she is now in a place of peace and joy where hummingbirds always fly.
Donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or the charity of your choice.