Stephanie Gilman

Stephanie Kae (Walters) Gilman passed away the evening of September 28th at Parkridge Specialty Care in Pleasant Hill, Iowa surrounded by staff and her Craig.

Stephanie was born on November 9th, 1948 in San Diego, California to Richard (Dick) Walters and Lois (Conway) Walters. Stephanie was a Navy Brat. At a young age she lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia - Kodiak, Alaska - Casey, Iowa- with most of her school years in Des Moines and Lenox, Iowa. In high school she was a cheerleader, she was interested in art, and the math came easy. She attended one year at Central College in Pella with interest in art and clothing fashion but with little money for more education, she found a retail job in Des Moines, selling women's clothing at Arnold’s and Stern’s clothing stores. About this time, she met a cute charismatic lad, named Craig Gilman, that was born and raised in the rural Stuart, Iowa area. She liked him and he liked her and they got hitched October 1, 1970. They lived in an upstairs apartment in Des Moines for three years and then purchased three acres of land in rural Bondurant in hopes to build their dream home. But with the economy in the tank, the purchase of an older house in Sheldahl, Iowa seemed a better fit. Stephanie changed her job from sales to window displays in the six retail clothing stores she worked at. In 1976 they built that house near Bondurant and moved into their new unfinished home with two dogs and two cats. They did all the finishing themselves, with a little help from Craig’s younger brother Cary, starting with the siding, sheet rock all the way through the painting and papering. At this time Stephanie started her Pen and Ink with Pastel Drawings. Weekend Art Shows for many years. She started working for a pottery shop around 1980 and continued working for The Potters until November of 2020 when she retired and so did they, kind of. She sold her Ink and Pastel’s throughout the Midwest and their home in rural Bondurant was always enhanced with her art, and the art of others. The coordination and use of color were very important and fun for her. She was a runner most of her life. She ran the country roads early mornings, rain, shine, cold or snow, often being accompanied with one of her faithful dogs. In the mid 1980’s she competed in the Big Creek Triathlon and finished it good fashion. Stephanie and Craig didn’t have any children, but their lives, house and acreage was continuously occupied with their cats and dogs along with a few oddball critters. In August of 2018 she was diagnosed with the beginnings of Alzheimer’s and in late 2019 developed Capgras Syndrome. In March of 2021 her best friend, lover and husband Craig suffered a heart attack and Stephanie was admitted to Bickford of Urbandale where she lived for one year. She learned the art of escaping to go for a walk, so her Craig, found another facility that fit her needs even better. Kennybrook Village's, Maggie’s Place, was a great match. The staff loved her at both facilities because of her docile personality and mannerisms. She was entertained, comfortable and content. Craig would take her out to see her friends and have lunch three times a week. But after six months at Maggie’s Place, she needed additional care. Parkridge Specialty Care was the facility that Craig picked out for her and that, worked out quite well. At each of these facilities the staff adored her and gave her special care as best they could. They always had her dolled up and waiting for her man when he came to pick her up for an outing, or stay in for lunch and dinner when outings became too difficult. My deepest thanks, to all those CNA’s that gave that extra effort during this journey that Stephanie and I have been on.

Thank you to Suncrest Hospice for their assistance during Stephanie’s three separate experiences under hospice care.

She will be missed by the love of her life and husband Craig, her only remaining first cousin Gene and (Marilynn) Kirkpatrick and second cousins Carol and Dean, her sister-in-law Millie McDowall, brother-in-law Cary and (Rochelle) Gilman. Along with her nieces, nephews and many friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday October 13th, from 11:00-4:00 PM at Craig and Stephanie’s home in rural Bondurant.

Donations to Alzheimer’s Association or Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

Thank you to the friends and family that have been giving us encouragement and support for the last six years as Stephanie and her Craig rode together on Stephanie’s Alzheimer’s Swing.

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