Virginia Ann Altaffer Stuhr

Virginia Ann Altaffer Stuhr, 94, daughter of Clara Marie Thompson and Virgil Eugene Altaffer, passed away peacefully Aug. 12, 2018, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

Virginia Ann was born in 1924 on a farm near Elliott, IA, attending a one room country school, then attended Stennett, IA Consolidated School where she graduated in 1941.  Her further education included Red Oak Junior College, Peru (NE) State Teacher's College, and Drake (IA)University where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1946. During WWII she was teaching primary grades in Minden, IA, when she met her future husband, John Carl Stuhr, Jr. They married in 1946 and together moved from Des Moines to Overland Park, KS, in 1962 with their two sons.

John's early retirement from a career with Amoco allowed the couple to enjoy shared interests such as travel, gardening, photography, genealogy and, for Virginia most especially, community service. After supporting John through Alzheimer's until his passing in 2008, she continued her work battling hunger and inequality.  The church and more than 30 organizations benefited from her membership and service and many others from her financial support. Virginia always chose to give back more to those who had less than take more for herself. For a little old lady, she left big shoes to fill.

She is survived by sons Jim of Shawnee and John of California; sister Dorothy Lee Phillips at the family farm in Red Oak, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Memorial services will be Aug. 23 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road. A reception will follow in the Friendship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Heifer Project, Village Presbyterian or Harvesters.