Iva J. Stephan, 68, Duluth

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 1, 2003

C.R.N.A. Iva J. Stephan, age 68, of Duluth, died Sunday, June 29, 2003, in St. Luke’s Hospital Hospice.

She was born on Feb. 27, 1935, to Herman and Margaret (Bernarde) Damrau in Tigerton, Wis. Iva graduated from Tigerton High School in 1953. She went on to graduate from Methodist Kahler School of Nursing in 1956 and Mayo Clinic School of Anesthesia in 1958. Iva worked as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for 32 years at a variety of different hospitals starting at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, then to St. Olaf Hospital in Austin, Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa, Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, and ending her career at St. Luke’s Hospital here in Duluth in 1991. Her love for life and outgoing nature enabled her to touch the hearts of many. Her many hobbies included quilting, gardening, cooking and traveling. She was an avid reader and had a bold nature that resembled those of the heroines in her novels. Iva was proud of her profession as a C.R.N.A. and held positions as the president of the Iowa Association of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and vice president of the National Association of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Iva was a remarkable woman and will be missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Craig; and brothers: Gerald, David and Arden Damrau.

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Iva is survived by her husband, Philip of Duluth; sons, Philip Jr. of Mendota Heights, Minn., Mark (Tierza) of Edina, Minn., and Bruce (Pam) of Waconia, Minn.; and grandchildren: Tai, Cole, Chad, Jack and Rachel.

A gathering time will be from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service on Saturday, July 12, at the Jarvi-Dowd Chapel, Duluth. Arrangements are by Bell Brothers Funeral and Cremation Services, Jarvi-Dowd Chapel.