M. Eloise Stainbrook, the daughter of Maude and Roy Howland, was born January 6, 1924, at the family homestead in Jewell County and was united with the Lord Saturday, January 03, 2009, at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas. She had reached the age of 84 years, 11 months, and 28 days.
She graduated from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in 1946. From September 1946 to February 1947 she was a private duty nurse taking care of polio patients in Salina, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Nelson Stainbrook April 20, 1948 at Jefferson City, Missouri. They moved to Minneapolis from Roeland Park, Kansas in 1952, and owned and operated Stainbrook Jewelry for 35 years. In 1967 she worked the opening night of the Ottawa County Hospital where she retired her nursing career as a staff nurse in 1977. She did volunteer work for the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Ottawa County Home Health Board and church activities. She was a member of the International Chapter P.E.O Sisterhood and the First Presbyterian Church.
Eloise maintained a deep love for her many friends and their families; enjoyed her special relationship with her grandson, Michael; and thoroughly enjoyed the humorous side of sharing a great tale. Her keen interest in sports was always a source of enjoyment to her.
She is survived by two daughters, Marcia Rice and husband Ed of Olathe, Kansas; Sue Stainbrook, Las Vegas, Nevada; grandson, Michael Rice of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister, Helen Coffelt; sister-in-laws Wanda Stainbrook, Gretchen Howland, and Betty Howland; and many favorite nieces and nephews.
Preceding Eloise in death were her husband, Nelson; parents; brothers, Robert, Bruce, Donald, and Smith; sisters, Mary Jane Isaacson and Lillian Cypher.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis with Michele McHenry, C.L.P. officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis. Visitation will be from 2 P.M. to 8 P.M. Tuesday at Wilson Shields Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the M. Eloise Stainbrook Memorial Fund which will later be used as a nursing scholarship.