Stella Henrietta Eiermann, 98

Stella Henrietta Pederson Eiermann was born on November 29, 1907 near Willmar, Minnesota, and grew up on a farm near Willmar with her parents, older sisters Amy, Gladys, and Ethel, and younger brother, Earl. She attended grade school, junior and senior high school in Willmar, which often required travel by horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. She graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. As an English teacher in Minnesota she helped with drama productions and journalism. Her lifelong love of learning continued as she took classes at the University of Minnesota, Washington University (St. Louis) and later UCLA. During World War II, Stella taught a radio receivers class for the Air Force in Madison, Wisconsin. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert Revere Eiermann, who was teaching a radio transmissions course. She and Bob were married on March 28, 1945 in Florida while he was stationed there. Susan was born in Florida, and when Bob completed his service they moved to Queens, New York City. The Eiermanns lived in Queens for almost 10 years, during which time Lynda was born. While in New York, Stella was active in the PTA and also a Brownie Scout leader. In 1955, the family moved to Los Angeles. Since the girls were older, she began teaching and substituted at first but soon had a permanent position at Louis Pasteur Junior High and later at Webster Junior High. After retiring, Stella kept busy as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She traded in grading English papers for creating hand-stitched quilts to grace the beds and walls of her granddaughter and daughters’ rooms. She loved to work in her garden and nurtured her cattleya and cymbidium orchids. Stella was very active in the Palisades Garden Club and served at least two terms as president. During her terms of office, the Garden Club dedicated a new tree in front of the library to President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan. She also initiated and carried through plans for the design and development of the mini-green at the intersection of Monument and Sunset. Stella was a member of the Palisades Historical Society, Palisades Lutheran Church and the Westwood Women’s Bruin Club. She was an avid follower of UCLA basketball and especially admired John Wooden. Stella leaves her husband of 61 years, Bob, her daughters Susan (Jami) Olson and Lynda, her grandchildren Kristin and Jonathan, and her sister Ethel. Stella died on May 31 at the age of 98. In lieu of flowers, send donations in her memory to The Scholarship Fund, Pacific Palisades Garden Club, P.O. Box 261, or Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset.