Marcia S. Stasch

Marcia Sandra Stasch, 65, of 950 ? 7th Street SE, died Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held 3:00 PM Sunday at the Adas Israel Synagogue, 620 N. Adams with Michael P. Libbie officiating. Interment will be at a later date. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to the Marcia S. Stasch Memorial Fund. Marcia Sandra Stasch was born on December 30, 1940, to Israel and Helen Lessak (Hoffman) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stasch graduated from Minneapolis North High School in 1958 and Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota in 1977. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Jesse R. Stasch, whom she met while working at a company to which he came a calling, her son Bruce Stasch and his wife Eve of Minneapolis and her daughter Kimberly Stasch, also of Minneapolis. She is also survived by her sister, Harriet Klopper from Omaha, Nebraska. Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Barbara. Marcia was stricken with polio at the age of six months, but never let that stop her from accomplishing far more than was ever expected from her. She was a bigger than life figure despite her diminutive size and for the last decade, as her health slowly began failing, was closely watched by her husband who acted as her driver, caregiver and partner. Known locally as an advocate, agitator and activist for human rights, civil rights and disability rights, she was involved in a number of organizations, oftentimes its leader, on a local, state and national level. She was a fearless voice when it came to speaking for her constituency and did not hesitate to confront corporations, governments and politicians when she believed she was right. She served as Chairwoman for the Mason City Task Force on Accessibility, President of the Mason City Pilot Club and director of Iowa COMPASS. She was also a member of the Mason City Human Rights Commission, Iowa Program for Assistive Technology, Iowa Able Foundation, ARC of North Central Iowa, the Independent Living Council, appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Rehabilitation Council, as well as the Iowa Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Memorials may be given to the Marcia S. Stasch Memorial Fund.

Visitation:
4:00 PM to 4:00 PM at on September 14, 2006 (map/driving directions) 4:00 PM to 4:00 PM at on September 14, 2006 (map/driving directions)

Service:
3:00 PM at 620 N. Adams on September 17, 2006 (map/driving directions)