Iris Strokes Wade

Iris Stokes Wade, age 93, died peacefully in the presence of family members on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at the Oakwood Village Retirement Community in Madison, Wisconsin.    She was retired for some years after serving as the librarian at Crestwood Elementary School in Madison.   Iris was the wife of the late Earl K. Wade, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin - Madison.   Iris was born on November 10, 1915 in Fountain Inn, South Carolina.   She graduated from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1936 and also attended the University of Wisconsin where she took additional graduate coursework to obtain a certification in Library Science.   Iris taught French, English and Latin for over ten years in several communities in South Carolina.   While teaching in Columbia, SC, she met her future husband Earl Wade, who was stationed with the Army Air Corps at nearby Shaw Field.   They were married in 1947 and moved to Antigo, WI where their first son Randy was born.   They then moved to the Madison area where Earl pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin Department of Plant Pathology.    In ensuing years, while Earl pursued his new position at the University of Wisconsin, Iris was fully occupied raising her young family of three boys that now included Byron and Kenneth.   Once the three children had completed elementary school, Iris resumed her teaching career at Crestwood Elementary School, where she served as school librarian for over 15 years. The value that Iris placed on education was an important thread throughout her life and in the upbringing of her three children.   Iris was an avid reader and instilled that love of reading in her children and the children she worked with at Crestwood School.   She participated in several book clubs, both when teaching and after her retirement. Her children and grand children have treasured the guidance she provided and the example she set.   They have all earned advanced college degrees and have pursued challenging professions and accomplishments. Iris is survived by her sister Marian Stokes Mohney of Asheville NC; her three sons Randall (Marilyn) of Madison, Byron (Theresa) of Niceville, FL and Kenneth (Patty) of Blue Mounds, WI; and three grand children Jennifer of New York, NY, Melissa (Kevin) Wade Alford of Dover, DE and Byron Craig of Pittsburgh, PA.   She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Millard Stokes, her mother Etolia Duckett Stokes, her brother Joseph Duckett Stokes and her sister Doris (Stokes) Rickenbacker. Iris was active for many years in the First United Methodist Church in Madison. Iris's life long commitment to her family and her husband Earl was celebrated at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.   She was an avid gardener, and took great pride in the flower gardens around her home in Madison and her vegetable plot.   A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at the Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road in Madison.   The Reverend Gwen Brandfass, Oakwood Village Chaplin, will officiate.   Burial will be held at the Forest Hill Cemetery.   Memorials may be made to the Oakwood Village Foundation.     Cress Funeral Home