Stephanie Cecile Hymes, 43, of Fort Madison, Iowa, formerly of Salem, Iowa, passed away at 10:34 a.m. Sunday, August 9, 2026 at her home.
She was born on June 16, 1983, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of Warren and Teresa (Stukerjurgen) Hymes. She married Ryan Cook, they later divorced. She then married Bryan White, they later divorced.
Survivors include her son: Thomas White; daughter: Mandalyn White; step-children: Katelyn (Justin) Dunn, McKenna (Dustin) Thomas; parents: Warren and Teresa Hymes; siblings: Thomas “Jeremy” (Kim) Hymes, Mark (Pam) Hymes, Chris (Cheri) Hymes, Raymond Hymes, Rachel (Justin) Garretson; grandmothers: Veronica “Roni” Belknap, Agnes Stukerjurgen; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother: Charles in infancy; paternal grandparents: Charles and Cecelia Hymes; maternal grandfather: Omar Stukerjurgen and several aunts and uncles.
Stephanie was a 2001 graduate of Marquette High School. Throughout her career, she worked at West Point Lumber and Flower Cottage before beginning her current work as a special education teacher at Fort Madison Community High School. She also worked part-time at Kempker’s True Value in Fort Madison. Stephanie was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the Southeast Iowa Symphony and the Hymes Family Band. She shared her passion of music by teaching violin students and performing with numerous local bands, as well as providing music for weddings and funeral services. Through her music, she brought joy and comfort to many people in her community.
Her body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Houghton, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Christian wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Houghton with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.