Charlotte Eilers

Charlotte Selma Elizabeth Eilers 91 (nee Steinkamp) of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, February 2, 2008 peacefully in the Western Home after an extended illness. Char was born 3/2/1916 the daughter of Rev. George and Hilda (Baade) Steinkamp of Hawarden IA. Char always showed a great interest in teaching and began that career in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in 1939. In 1940, she married Milo Lawton in Jackson County, Indiana. They had one daughter Mary Ellen (Jim) Manley who passed away on August 15, 2005. Char taught kindergarten in the Waterloo Public Schools for a few years and in 1962 she was hired as a Professor of the Speech Department at UNI where she taught creative dramatics for several years. She was also very active in the UNI theatre as a costume designer for the plays. In 1968 Char graduated from UNI with her Masters degree. Milo passed away on May 6, 1971. In 1972, UNI presented Char with the Alumni Service Award. On November 18, 1973 she and fellow faculty member at UNI, Lawrence Eilers of Cedar Falls were united in marriage. Larry was a deeply devoted husband and friend to Char and enjoyed traveling with her. Char and Larry were involved in the Cedar Falls Community Theatre as well as many other local arts organizations. They were also active members of the St. Luke's Episcopal Church. In 1999 the Sturgis Youth Theatre at UNI established the Charlotte Eilers Outreach & Scholarship Fund in her honor. Char will always be remembered for her natural ability to keep her eight brothers in line during their childhood (and at reunions!) as well as an organizer par excellence of many large, exciting and fun family reunions. She also had a great love for children and the performing arts. On March 26, 2000 Larry passed away in Waterloo, IA. In 2001 Char moved to the Martin Health Center at the Western Home in Cedar Falls. Char will be greatly missed and is fondly remembered by her step children Alan, Nancy, Clark and Linda, her brothers; Erwin (Katherine) Steinkamp, Norman (Judy) Steinkamp, and George (Sylvia) Steinkamp, son-in-law Jim Manley; by beloved grandchildren, and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. Char was additionally preceded in death by her parents and brothers Theodore, Robert, Eugene, Richard, and Roland.