Ethel M. Stanbrough
January 17, 2011
Ethel M. Stanbrough, 78, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2011. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Private burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens.
Ethel was born on October 24, 1932 in Oskaloosa to John and Alberta Shirk. She graduated from East High School in 1951 and married her high school sweetheart, Gene Stanbrough on June 9, 1951. They enjoyed many summers at Clear Lake and Lake Panorama with their family. Later in retirement they lived in Florida and Iowa. Ethel enjoyed being involved with her children and grandchildren’s activities. She was the “original” hockey mom and a devoted Beaverdale little league baseball mom. Ethel herself was a natural athlete and her family considered her fearless, mighty and bigger than life. She enjoyed water skiing, boating and traveling. She was also a member of the East High Alumni Group and adored animals and wildlife.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Gene; sons, Dave (Sherry), Dan (Tammy), Mike (Melanee); grandchildren, Jennifer (Mason) Woltz, Ben (Meredith) Stanbrough, Jeff (Jen) Stanbrough, Brad Stanbrough, Diana (Adam) Nelms, Casey Frum, Nick Stanbrough, and Alex Stanbrough; great-grandchildren, Zoie, Jack and Josephine Stanbrough, Myah and Myles Woltz, Jase and Jordana Stanbrough, Gianna Nelms; and sister, Lois Fuller. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Susan Stanbrough.
Online condolences may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Doug & Vicki Wegner
01/24/2011
Dan & Tammy...
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
during this difficult time...
Darwin & Lila Pollard
01/23/2011
Our daughter, Darla, e-mailed us of Ethel's death. How sorry we were to hear of this and it brought back many memories of our days of being your next-door neighbors - and our son, Doug, and your son, David, played together lots. And we had Darla and Dana, our two daughters and you had Dan at that time also. Those were the days! We now live in Canada, but still hear news from Iowa. We send our sympathies to all the family. God bless.
Darwin & Lila Pollard
Ben Neideigh
01/23/2011
I was sorry to hear of the death of Ethel. I enjoyed the years that I was employed at Stanbrough Realtors. I was proud to sell real estate for your company. I remember the many award banquets and special functions that we attended as a company. Mrs. Stanbrough will always be remembered by me as a classy lady. There are many memories that will carry your family through this time of grief. Donna and I will keep you in our prayers. We still talk about our honeymoon spent in Clearwater Beach, Florida as a perk of your company. We always appreciated everything that Gene and Ethel did for us.
Jim Mackey
01/22/2011
Dan, I just read the news of your moms death and wanted to tell you how sorry I was hearing of her passing. I hope your dad and the rest of the family are holding up ok. Cindy and will keep you in our prayers. (That was a great picture of her by the way! I'm sure she will be missed vey much by all who knew her.)
Jim and Jean Stephenson
01/22/2011
Gene and Family, May the heavenly father hold each of you in the palm of his hand as you face the loss of your beloved Ethel. We extend a profoound sympathy in loss.
Jim and Jean Stephenson
Rolla, MO
Geri and Dick Babcock
01/22/2011
Thinking of your family today. Our sympathy to all of you. We know Ethel will be greatly missed.
Dave and Judy Holmes
01/22/2011
Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are being extended to you and your family.
Kevin and Teri Fredregill
01/21/2011
Tammy and Dan,
Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you.
Wendi Reger
01/21/2011
What I remember about Ethel is how she welcomed people into her family and home. When our children were younger we would celebrate Easter together with the Stanbrough family as they were in-laws to my sister in law, Sherry. Even though she had several grandchildren of her own, she always included my children by giving them their very own Easter basket.
Then, when the Stanbroughs moved out to the lake, they lived next door to my in-laws. Ethel always had an open door policy that whoever wanted to come by and say hi, she'd be the first to offer them something to drink or ask if they wanted to go out on the pontoon. Gene and Ethel may of been in a higher social class then us, but you'd never know it, by the way they treated other. She was a grand lady and I'm thankful to of known her.
Bob and Betty White
01/21/2011
Gene:
We are so sorry to hear about Ethel. She was a very special person.
We are in Arizona and will be unable to attend her services.
Looking back we have many wonderful memories - hockey trips, lake experiences and many others.
We have enjoyed you and Ethel and have always considered you as good friends.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Bob and Betty
Marion and Bonnie Conover
01/21/2011
Mike and Melanee,
We extend our deepest condolences to you. While we did not personnely know Ethel, we can see from her obituary how active and full of life she had to be. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Marion and Bonnie Conover
Dennis Hanson
01/21/2011
Dan, Tammy, Brad,
I want to express my condolences at the loss of your Mom and Grandmother. They are hard to lose, but in the end, we all know that God has a special place in heaven for Moms. The nuture and care they give us here on earth are just a protion of what we will receive when we get to heaven ourselves.
Denny Hanson
Jerry & Judi Bowlsby
01/21/2011
To Gene and all the family. We are sorry to hear about Ethel's passing. God bless all of you. Jerry and Judi
Jerry & Nancy Welker
01/21/2011
Gene, Our condolences to you & your family. Our heartfelt Sympathy,
Jerry & Nancy Welker
Libbie and Jesse (Woltz)
01/20/2011
Jen - I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your grandmother. Please know that we are thinking of you and are here if we can do anything for you or your family.
Libbie and Jesse