Lucy Urias

Obituary of Lucy Urias

Newton lost a beloved member of our community on July 27, 2020 when Frances Lucille Urias (Lucy) passed away at the Comfort House in Pella. 

Lucy was born April 6, 1933 in Bussey Iowa to Ira and Belle (Sims) VanderLinden. She was a member of the class of 1951 at Knoxville High School. She married the love of her life, Joseph S. Urias in Newton on April 11, 1958 and together they built a beautiful life and family. Her family was her number one priority. Over the years she worked many places including the Maytag Dairy Farm, the Newton Daily News, and Newton Senior High School.

Lucy was an excellent athlete who enjoyed playing and watching sports of every kind! You would often find her sporting a Cardinals or Hawkeyes t-shirt and in the crowds cheering on her Grandchildren’s games, recitals, and plays. She was an avid golfer and also enjoyed basketball, softball, and any other sport she could join in on. She was a committed member of The Moose Lodge for over 50 years, the Elks, and the Westwood golf course. 

She is survived by her husband, Joseph S. Urias; her children, Mike (Annie) Urias, Ronald Dean (Sally) Urias, Teresa (Kent) Shirley, Chris (John) Heck, and Joe A. (Monica) Urias; her twenty-two grandchildren; her forty-two great grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren; her sister, Edna Nelson; her brother, Dale (Judy) Vander Linden; and a sister, Sandra Williams. Lucy was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Pat Urias Parker; her granddaughter, Toni Botello; a great granddaughter, Morgan Malloy; her parents; four sisters, and five brothers.

Lucy was always the life of the party and brought laughter and joy into so many people's lives. She could make just about anyone feel special and had more love to share than you could ever imagine. She will be sorely missed by so many.

We realize that there are so many who would want to honor our mama and her life, but due to COVID 19, there will not be a public service at this time. Friends may call at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton on Friday, July 31, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  The family will not be present.  A private family service will be held. 

In memoriam of Lucy, a bench will be placed in her honor at the Westwood Golf course. Memorials may be made payable to Mike Urias and may be left at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lucy Urias, please visit https://pencereese.com/tribute/details/1563/Lucy-Urias/obituary.html#tribute-start

Hurricane Hannah

Hurricane in Texas

Donna Gabbert is a friend of mine who lives in Rio Valley Estates. Many former Magnolia Park people follow Donna's blog as she keeps all of us updated on happenings in the Rio Grande Valley as well as the happenings in her own park. She lives there year-round and has for many years.

Here is what she had to say about Hurricane Hannah.

http://donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com/2020/07/july-26th.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DonnasRamblingsAtRve+%28Donna%27s+Ramblings+at+R.V.E.%29

Kay Stilson's address

https://www.sietsemavogelfuneralhomes.com/obituary/480193/William-Stilson/

Kay Stilson's address

781 W. Walcott Rd #154
Walcott IA 52773

Bill Stilson's Obituary

William Ross Stilson 79 of Walcott, Iowa, passed away July 18, 2020.

William (Bill) was born March 3, 1941, to Ross and Genetta Stilson. He lived and worked in Hampton for many years. He married Kay Izer on August 18, 1963. They had two children, Michael Ross and Craig William. In August of 1989, Bill moved to Toledo, Ohio, to work road construction for E. S. Wagner. He suffered a major stroke on May 1, 1996, and was forced to retire early, but that did not stop him. He volunteered for the St. Charles Rehab Center and Hospital for 10 years. He also loved helping Jim and Janet Fox every spring and fall getting their fields ready for crops.

In 2000, Bill and Kay started going to Donna, Texas, for the winter. They bought a trailer in Magnolia Park and looked forward to going there every winter. To keep busy, Bill bought Pecans. He cracked and picked them out and sold them to the ladies in the park. He soon became known as "Pecan Bill".

They enjoyed 20 wonderful winters in Magnolia Park. There was no such thing as a stranger to Bill. He really loved meeting and visiting with people. He enjoyed watching his two sons and four grandsons wrestle in high school and college. He was a big Iowa fan.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Richard, a sister Betty and two infant siblings.

Bill is survived by his wife Kay, two sons Michael of Colorado, Craig of Eldridge, six grandchildren Chelsea (Brett) Medernach of Farmington, Minnesota, Collin Stilson of Farmington, Minnesota, Cade Stilson of Reno, Nevada, Ethan Grant and Samantha Stilson of Eldridge, Iowa, and one great-granddaughter Paisley Medernach of Farmington, Minnesota.

With the Coronavirus on the rise, the family fully understands if you choose not to attend. If you do attend, please wear a mask.

These are pictures I found of Bill and I have others I know are even better and will post them when I locate them.

Bill Stilson Passed

We just received word that Bill Stilson passed away last night. When his obituary becomes available I will post it. He was widely known throughout the Rio Grande Valley as Pecan Bill and he was the truest of friends to all he met. He fought a long hard battle with his health and no one tried harder than he did. He will be greatly missed.

Where Did They Go? EDITED July 13

I've added a bit more information in the misc. section at the bottom.

Where did they go is the question I've gotten from a few people so here is a list of who went where. It should be pretty accurate but some of this info I've gotten 2nd or 3rd hand so take it with a grain of salt.

I will list the park first and then the names of those who moved there.

Roadrunner which is in Alamo
Ron & Cynthia Daigle
Connie Dziuk
Michael & Carolyn Murray
They join several former Magnolia residents who moved there a few years ago. I would list them but am afraid I'll leave someone out and most everyone knows who they are I'm sure.

Trails End which is in Weslaco
Marie Flood (moved last summer)
Mike Reddick (last summer)
Don & Marty Harper (last fall)
Andy Harper (last fall)
Mike & Pat Jordan
Natalia Poprawski (before the directory was printed)
Carmen Friesen
DeWayne Friesen
Terry Froseth
Darlene Jansen
Chet & Irma Johnson
Gail Lubisky
George & Shirley Meirhofer
Ron & Chris Pearce
Joe & Cheryl Raleigh

Leisure World
Larry Josie & Cathy Toms
Bob & Bev Stavrum

Rio Valley
DA & Kathy Baustian's mobile was finally able to move and they had already moved to a different mobile last summer or fall
Marjorie Soole
They also joined a few other former Magnolia residents who had moved there a few years ago

Siesta Village
Joe and Linda Bleess

Then there are a few that were sold and pulled out or sold and the unit stayed in the park and the Magnolia residents were going to stay home up north, or wherever home is.
Dave & Sue Greening - sold their RV
Al Gehman - sold his unit - it stayed in the park
James & Jocelyne McLean and Monique Trahan - sold and they have bought at Ranchero Village
Charlotte Nigh - sold
Max & Mary Pierce - sold, pulled out
Gene Rollins - sold, unit going to Leisure World
Kent & Donna Rae Stevens - sold
Susan Van Houweling - sold once and now has sold again
Jerry & Edna Walker - sold and I think pulled out
Bill & Kay Stilson donated theirs to the Catholic Church and it was pulled out
Edna Nelson sold and pulled out.
Sharon Hvam's was sold and I think pulled out.

This should be relatively accurate. If I'm not sure if it left or stayed in the park I just didn't say anything more than sold. If I've left someone out I'll fix it next time I post.

It was four weeks ago yesterday that I was told by someone at Vineyards Management or perhaps at OZ Impact Funds, or maybe Millstream Partners that the check for our deposit would be in the mail within 10 days. The firms are all intertwined but perhaps they sent the check by pony express as we have not gotten it yet and I'm guessing that the others who had paid to reserve a spot haven't gotten theirs back either.

On a different note, PLEASE be careful and take Covid 19 seriously. We were saddened to find out today that a new friend at Trophy Gardens passed today from this nasty virus. His wife and the rest of his family are slowly improving. It really hits home when it's someone you know personally. Stay safe.