Ione D. Stecher

Bellingham, WA lone D. Stecher passed away at home on October 20, 2013 following a short illness. lone was born lone Anne Dey on October 23, 1923 in Belle Plain, Wisconsin in a barn as the family home had been destroyed by fire. She was the youngest of three children born to Martin and Linda Dey. lone led an amazing life by growing up in the Great Depression, and often told stories of her family’s hardships and the steps she took to leave her small town and pay for her education. She used the first money she ever earned picking strawberries to buy her first tooth brush. After graduating from high school she enrolled in nurses training at Milwaukee Evangelical Deaconess Hospital. In order to meet the demand for nurses, the Army Nurses Army Corp. began enlisting student nurses at the beginning of World War II. lone completed her training after enlisting and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Army at the completion of her training. She met her late husband John F. “Jack” Stecher (An enlisted man) while serving on a troop transport & hospital ship during the Second World War. They married on January 16, 1945 in New York City. At the end of WW II lone and Jack moved to St. Louis, Missouri where she supported her husband by working as a hospital nurse, while he studied medicine at St. Louis University. Upon Jack’s graduation from medical school, lone and Jack with their 3 sons David, Daniel and Christopher), then moved to Caldwell, Idaho. Their growing Family was soon joined by their three daughters, (Beth, Susan and Sarah.) lone stayed at home rearing her children until Jack decided to study Pathology at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, OR. She then returned to work as a surgical nurse during her husband’s residency. The family moved to Bellingham during the summer of 1970. After working as a surgical nurse at St. Luke’s hospital, lone retired, but volunteered for the Visiting Nurse’s organization in Bellingham and helped establish Wellness Check-up Centers at the Senior Centers in Whatcom County. lone then moved to Anacortes until she and her husband returned to Bellingham in May of 1990. lone remained active by volunteering at the Whatcom County Food Bank and at “Wise Buys” (Lydia House) in Bellingham. She played bridge several days a week with her dear friends. Farewell Tribute Information At Ione’s request, there will be no services. Donations Information lone requests that any donations in her honor be given to local charities that serve Whatcom County, or to Doctors Without Borders.

Ione D. Stecher

October 23, 1923 - October 20, 2013