Stella Whitney

Stella Patricia Whitney was born in Stoughton, WI on February 6th, 1949 to Gus & Carol (Pat) Geallis. She went to Heaven on January 3rd, 2011 as a result of emphysema. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1968. She married Rodney Kleiboer on August 10th, 1968. Together they had 3 children, Rodney, Jason, and Heather. Following her husband Rodney's death she remarried to Michael Whitney on January 25th, 1983. She became the stepmother to Michael's three children, Christine, April, and Kimberly. They have 11 grandchildren, Nathan & Hannah Kleiboer of Evansville, WI; Andrew, Nicholas & Khloe Kleiboer of Albion, WI; Marisa Thiel of Madison, WI; Loren Oldenburg of Bloomington, MN; Zurich Wieser of Las Vegas, NV; Whitney & Ashley Nakata of Seattle, WA; and Richard Williams of Albion, WI. Stella lived in Stoughton until 2001 when her illness caused a move to Sun Lakes, AZ. She would spend summers at Rock River Leisure estates in Newville, WI, and winter in Sun Lakes. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, and parents. She is survived by her husband Michael, their children, stepchildren and grandchildren. She was very close to many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Until her illness she loved to dance and participated in several showcase dance competitions. She was a long-time student at Arthur Murray Studios in Madison and made many close friends there. She will always be remembered as a very loving mother, a tremendous cook, and for her hand-made greeting cards. All who know her will miss her bubbly personality and frequent telephone conversations. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 10, 2011 at noon at the Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, with the Rev. Paula Geister-Jones officiating.   Burial will follow at Lutheran Cemetery South.   The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Monday from 10:00 am until the time of service.   A reception at the Stoughton VFW Hall will follow services.   The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of Chandler (AZ) Regional Hospital, Stoughton Hospital, and especially the staff of Grace Hospice of Tempe, AZ. for their care of Stella in her time of need. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.