09/06/2025
Debie Stolk
Debie Kay (Sunderman) Stolk passed away peacefully on September 5, 2025, at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Though her journey was difficult, she faced it with the same grace and humor that she carried throughout her life.
A Celebration of Life will take place at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Casey Community Building, with a time of reflection beginning at 5:30 p.m. with dinner to follow as Debie would have wanted—surrounded by good food, laughter, and fellowship.
She was born on July 5, 1956, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Wilbur and Edna Sunderman. She was a proud majorette and graduate of Griswold High School, she later studied horticulture in Colorado. Debie met Dave Stolk, at the Chuck Wagon in Griswold. They were married on September 6, 1975, and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 6, 2025. Together they raised two daughters, Shannon Kay and Anthea Lyn.
Debie’s creative spirit blossomed in her career. After working at McDaniels and Greenfield Floral Shops, she followed her dream and opened Rainbow Floral in Casey, Iowa. More than just a flower shop, it became a hub of community life—offering everything from floral designs to movie rentals, Avon sales, and columns in the Adair News. For 22 years, she poured her heart into her business, earning a reputation not only as a talented florist and savvy entrepreneur but also as a pillar of her community. She served on the Casey Service Club, organized parades and events for Casey Fun Days, led Girl Scouts, and was honored as Citizen of the Year. After selling the flower shop she was an Avon District Manager, a role in which she built lasting friendships.
Debie loved gathering people together, whether it was hosting her legendary 4th of July parties, fish and nut fries, playing cards with her girlfriends, fishing with the Happy Hookers Club or fueling deer hunters with pots of chili and oyster stew. Summers brought the not-so-glamorous but always memorable tradition of chicken butchering days. Down by the pond, friends and family could always count on a full spread of snacks to pair with Dave’s barbecue, and her door was forever open for a cup of coffee, a jar of sun tea, or a cold beer.
Her grandchildren, Kasen and Avery, were the light of her life. Holidays, birthdays, or simple farm days spent with them were her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment of being their grandmother.
Debie’s love for flowers and gardening was unmatched. She loved the smell of fresh cut flowers. She and Dave tended expansive vegetable gardens, canning and sharing their harvest with friends and neighbors every fall. Her green thumb extended indoors too, where her plants thrived under her care.
Even in “retirement,” Debie stayed busy. She worked part-time at Aunt B’s in Atlantic, bringing her floral talents to yet another shop. She delighted in garage sales and “junk jaunts” across Kansas and Nebraska, uncovering treasures. Road trips with Dave took them from Iowa to Texas, Tennessee, and Montana, camping at state parks and stopping at historical sites along the way.
Debie passed on her strength, creativity, and warmth to her daughters. She started her fight with cancer on August 1, 2024 and her hope, determination, and resilience during this journey is a true testament to her character.
Debie is survived by her husband, David Stolk; daughters, Shannon (Mark) Crain and step-granddaughter, Deja Crain of Des Moines, and Annie (Toby) Coombs and their children, Avery and Kasen Coombs of Van Meter; her brothers-in-law, John Stolk and Paul (Amanda) Stolk; and her beloved nieces and nephews, Jodie, Tyler, Mindy, Carri, Sam, Tabitha, and Chris (and their children). She is preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Edna, grandmother, Hazel (Mammy), her sister-in-law, Roberta and many dear aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Debie’s heart was as big as her garden, and she extended her love to every living creature—including her many dogs, cats, and dare I say her chickens. In her honor, memorial contributions may be made to the pet rescue organization of your choice or to the Casey United Methodist Church.
She will be remembered always for the way she made everyone feel welcome—because with Debie, there was always room at the table.
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