Theresa Jo (Kelly) Stewart

       Theresa Jo Stewart, 68, of Newton died on Friday, June 6, 2025. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 12, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  Memorials to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church may be left at the church the day of the service or at the funeral home.

       Theresa was born on January 4, 1957, to Joseph and Evelyn (Coop) Kelly in Newton.  She graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1975 and then Marshalltown Community College in 1977.  In September of 1977, Theresa was united in marriage with her high school sweetheart, Rick Stewart, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. The couple had two children, Christina and Robert.

In 1994 when Theresa was in her 30’s, she went back to college and graduated with an education degree from Iowa State University. She taught for Heartland AEA 11 until 2013 when an unknown viral infection nearly took her life. Thankfully she survived although she required supplemental oxygen for the rest of her life.

       With good reason to be angry, she wasn’t. She often said she should have died in 2013 and was grateful for every day since.  With good reason to complain, she didn’t.  She united her suffering with that of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on His cross.  Her faith was deep and her prayer life rich.

       The best part of her 12 “bonus years” was the time she spent with her five grandchildren. She adored them and they adored her.  Grandma Theresa was known for her epic tea parties that should have been called “cookie parties”, her well-stocked craft room, and her willingness to make a mess in the pursuit of a good time.  Over those 12 years, Theresa became a talented quilter as well.  She loved to make and gift her beautiful quilts to family, friends, the church, and even acquaintances.

       Theresa was survived by her husband, Rick of 48 years; children, Christina (Samuel) Geer of Minneapolis and Robert (Melissa) Stewart of Ankeny; grandchildren, Mary and Davis Geer and Lily, Jacob, and Connor Stewart; her sister, Lisa Cummins; brothers, Michael, Patrick, and James Kelly; and her many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Cynthia Kelly; and a brother, Timothy Kelly.

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