Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sterner, Roberta Moore (Lowery) August 30, 2024
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@concast.net November 18, 2024, 11:45 am

Ionia Shopper's Guide - Sat. October 5, 2024

             STERNER

Robert Moore Sterner was born on February 21, 1921 in Mendham, New Jersey, to 
Mary Eudora (Colville)Lowery and William F.Lowery, the seventh of 10 children.

She enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens, contributing flowers 
and vegetable to church events, special occasions and friends.She passed this 
love on to her children. She took a keen interest in wild and woodland plants 
and could identify and name scores of native plant varieties, that grew in the 
woods, and fields of Ionia.

Ed and Roberta liked to travel. On their trips Ed and Roberta always took plenty 
of photos and enjoyed sharing their slides and reminisces with numerous local 
organizations. She was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in 
Ionia. She was active in the church and choir for decades.She taught dozens of 
local girls to sew and cook as a 4-H group leader, and for many years led Girl 
Scout Troops.

Roberta attended Michigan State University(then Michigan State College) and 
received a degree in home economics in 1943. She met Edward F.Sterner in 1941 in 
their chemistry class. He was a student at the Michigan State College of 
Veterinary Medicine.Ed said later that he knew immediately that she was the girl 
for him.They married on May 28, 1944 and started their life together in Ionia, 
Michigan.They remained happily married until Ed's death on June 23, 1997.

After Roberta graduated from MSU, she taught Home Economics in the Onsted Public 
Schools. When she and Ed married, they built and managed Sterner Veterinary 
Clinic. Their work with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine led to an 
innovative preceptor program, where veterinary students spent a semester working 
side-by-side with the vets at Sterner Vet Clinic. There are many veterinarians 
around the world who have fond memories of Robert's Sunday dinners.

She is survived by her five children; Keith Sterner (Lynn Sterner), Ruth Barkham 
(Thomas W.Barkham),Anne Jeffers (Kevin Jeffers),Lorene Sterner (Eric Lipson), 
and Rebecca Sterner, 12 grandchildren Kim Sterner Coward (Brian Coward), Travis 
Sterner (Scott Greig), Kristin LeGrand(Matt LeGrand), Carrie Barkham Myer 
(Joshua Myer), Trevor Barkham (Emily Barkham), Jonathon Barkham (Julia Barkham), 
Thomas Barkham (Elizabeth Barkham),Abra Jeffers (Jon Martin), Tess Jeffers 
(Timothy Palpant), and 16 great-grandchildren (Ethan, Dash, Norah, Etta, Evelyn, 
Eleanor, Edward,Benjamin, Frederick, Adriana, Thomas, Jackson, and Natalia).

Roberta will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ionia First Methodist 
Church or the Edward F. and Robert M.Sterner fund for Bovine Research at the 
College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University.

The Celebration of Life will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday October 12, 2024 
at Ionia First Methodist United Church, 105 east Main Street, Ionia, with a 
luncheon to follow.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes.Online condolences may be 
made at www.lehmanfuenralhomes.com


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