Obituary of Earl Wesley Stroud

Earl W. Stroud, 84 of Iowa City died Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 18, 2010, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with entombment at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Earl’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Earl Wesley Stroud was born August 25, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Wesley Earl and Ethel Stroud. He attended and graduated from school in Missouri. Following this he moved to Iowa City where he met and later married Irene M. Kelly on September 19, 1945. They had lived all their married lives (over 63 years) in Iowa City, raising their twelve children, enjoying their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Earl was a man who believed in his family, and hard work. For a number of years he owned and operated Earl’s Trucking Company; and throughout the years worked in various occupations. His family includes daughters, Terry Abbott (Ralph) of Davenport, Diane Siems (Wayne) of Oxford, Barbara Brant of Ankeny, Betty Staley (Larry) of Iowa City, Robin Cox (Don) of West Branch, and Christine Mayers (Rob) of Davenport; sons, William Stroud of Iowa City, Edward Stroud of Iowa City, and Richard Stroud of Solon; 28 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren; and son-in-law, Dennis Rost of Manson, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Irene; daughter, Ginger Rost; two sons, Ronald and Frank Stroud; granddaughter, Tiffany; a brother and a sister. Earl’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the excellent care that all the nurses, doctors and staff at Mercy Hospital provided Earl. They would also like to thank everyone at Crestview Care Center in West Branch for their loving care of their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, we will always remember you. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Earl’s family and his services.