Evelyn Margaret Davis

Evelyn Margaret Davis, age 96 of Stronghurst passed away peacefully at 2:05 a.m. Sunday January 25, 2015 at the Donnellson Health Center in Donnellson, Iowa. She was born September 10, 1918 in Fort Madison, Iowa the daughter of Fredereck and Esther Stack Kipp.

Mrs Davis was a nurse and nurse-educator for forty three years, teaching at Mercy and Burlington Hospital Schools of Nursing in Burlington, and Carl Sandburg Community College in Galesburg.

Mrs. Davis had two sons, William Hierstein of Auburn, Maine and Robert Hierstein (deceased). Also surviving are five grandchildren, Lisa (Scott) Eversmeyer, Robert (Lisa) Hierstein, Julie (Barry) Staats, Emily (Brian) Sparkle, Jessica (Brian) Michaud, eight great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Evelyn was married to William Hierstein in 1941 and after his untimely death in 1946, she lived as a widow and raised her two sons. She supported her family by working as a staff nurse at Mercy Hospital in Fort Madison. In 1954, she moved to Iowa City, Iowa where she attended the University Of Iowa, earning a B.S. in nursing and public health in 1956.

Immediately after graduating from the University Of Iowa, she moved with her two sons to Quincy, Illinois, where she taught nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital School Of Nursing. Later, she taught at Mercy and Burlington Hospital Schools of Nursing, and then left for a career advancement at Carl Sandburg Community College, where she was Chair of the Nursing Program. She held that position for over twenty years, eventually retiring to Stronghurst.

She married Oscar Davis of Stronghurst in 1965. They were happily married for thirty eight years until Oscar’s death in 2003. Oscar was a fine man who loved Evelyn, her sons, and especially their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

While working at Carl Sandburg College, Evelyn earned a Master Of Arts Degree from Western Illinois University.

In later years, she suffered from dementia and was cared for at the Kensington in Fort Madison and later at the Donnellson Health Center. She was a member of the Stronghurst United Methodist Church.

The funeral service for Mrs. Davis will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday January 31, 2015 in the Stronghurst United Methodist Church with Pastor Karna Peterson officiating. Burial will follow in the Stronghurst Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A memorial fund has been established for the Stronghurst Ambulance Service. Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Stronghurst is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.