Willis A. Stainbrook, age 89, died Monday, February 12, 2007 at the Marengo Memorial Hospital following complications of an accident at his home. Funeral Services: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 17, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, Marengo with Rev. Morris Hurd officiating. Burial will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the Brandon Cemetery, Brandon, IA. Military Honors will be conducted by the Marengo American Legion Post #76 at the church. Friends may call from 4 to 8 P.M. Friday, February 16, 2007 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established.

Willis is survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen of Marengo and their children, Craig (Sheila) of Waterloo, Cris (Dorothy) of Forest Lake, MN, Curt (Joan) of Stacy, MN, and Lori Brock of Marengo. Survivors also include seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Willis was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Judd and Lawrence Stainbrook and two sisters, Lola Forsythe and Vera Wolf.

Willis Alfred Stainbrook was born July 27, 1918 on a farm south of Brandon in Buchanan County, Iowa. He was the son of Ralph and Ethel Robideaux Stainbrook. He graduated from Brandon High School and Coe College, Cedar Rapids. Re received his Masters degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Willis married Helen Newman on November 25, 1949 at Brandon, after serving in the Navy during World War II. He was an Industrial Arts teacher for 30 years in several schools including Brandon, Coggon and Iowa Valley at Marengo. He was a sixty-year member of the American Legion. Willis was an avid fisherman, mushroom hunter and gardener.

Willis will be remembered by his family for his good humored competitive nature during card games and the creation of new phrases to express his dissatisfaction of bad luck. Above all, he will be remembered as a wonderful father and grandfather.