Althea Hayward

Aletha Mae (Stumpf) Hayward, age 82, formerly of Osceola, Iowa, died on January 3, 2021 at The Arbors memory care facility in Reno, Nevada following a three-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Aletha, whose friends knew her as “Lee,” was born on March 29, 1938 to parents Fred and Josephine (Schwiderski) Stumpf in Rockwell City, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the Rockwell City Catholic Church. Lee grew up as the youngest of seven siblings on a farm near Rockwell City. She graduated from Rockwell City High School in 1956, where she was a member of the varsity girls basketball team.

Lee attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (now known as the University of Northern Iowa), graduating in 1960 with a B.A. in Education. She taught science and physical education in the communities of Marion and Leon, Iowa.

On February 24, 1962 Lee married Harold Dean Hayward of Independence, Iowa at the Catholic Church in Rockwell City. They moved to Osceola in 1965. Lee and Dean raised two children, Dan and Judi.

Lee was a busy mother and homemaker, but also worked with Dean at his accounting practice. She also occasionally served as a substitute teacher. Lee was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola and the Osceola Country Club. She enjoyed golf, playing bridge, gardening, baking, quilting, watching high school and college sports (particularly Iowa Hawkeye basketball), and volunteer work. She was a very positive and friendly person who will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Lee moved to Reno, Nevada in October 2018 seven years after Dean passed away. Until the Covid-19 pandemic, she enjoyed seeing her son’s family each week, and attending church at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. She particularly liked to visit with the many small children who would greet her at the door.

Among those who cherish Lee’s memory are her children Dan (Julie) Hayward of Reno, Nevada and Judi (Willie) Watts of Milan, Georgia; her grandchildren Joshua Casterline, Michaela Watts, Elsa Ross and Liam Hayward; brother Dale Stumpf; sister Doris Stumpf Bodwell Dickerson; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members and friends.

Lee is predeceased by her husband Dean; her parents Fred and Josephine Stumpf; her brother Bernard Stumpf; and sisters Florence Newberry, Faye Mundie and Rosella Loxterkamp.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Reno, Nevada on January 22, 2021. The family will make arrangements for a grave side service later in the Spring or early Summer at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockwell City, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 222 East Pearl Street, Osceola, Iowa 50213.