Obituary of Jody Sternberg

Mary Jo "Jody" Sternberg was born in Spencer, Iowa, on March 27, 1948, the daughter of Hugh & Gerry Sternberg of Milford, Iowa. Jody attended primary schools in both Iowa and California when the family moved there for five years. She also took specialized classes to help her overcome the speech and physical challenges that were a way of life for her. Because of her special challenges, Jody always lived close to her parents, but, for many years, independently. Through the good programs of Plus and Hope Haven, Jody lived and worked in Spirit Lake most of her life. Jody enjoyed reading a good book. She loved going to plays and musicals on stage, as well as country music entertainment. She has seen every Lawrence Welk show he ever made, numerous times! Baseball games were her favorite sport to watch and she always had a jigsaw puzzle going. Holidays and any special occasion that got the family together were her favorite times. Jody loved animals, and would not miss the family's horse and cattle shows, but she was partial to dogs and cats. Life's schedules and punctuality were important to Jody. Woe be to the person that made her late! She was a life-long member of Union Memorial Church in Milford. Jody passed away Saturday, October 19 2013, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake at sixty-five years of age. Jody is survived in this life by her father, Hugh; brother, Scott and his wife Pam; sister, Beth and her husband Dave Sander; niece, Jessica Sander, nephew, Tyler and his wife Ashley, and their new son, CJ. She was preceded in death by her mother, Gerry, nephews, Benson and Jackson Sternberg, grandparents, Adolph and Eva Blum and Ira and Blanche Sternberg.