Connie Stapf (Bowker)

Connie Stapf (Bowker), age 63 went to be with her Lord, Tuesday, February 17, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents Marleah and Sydney Bowker; brother Jeffrey Bowker. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband Joseph Stapf; children Bennett (Heather) Stapf, Marleah (Carlos) Ruiz, Daniel Stapf, Jillian Stapf; grandchildren Sydney, Jaxon, Cohen, Antonio, Lilliana; brother Joseph (Candy) Bowker; cousin Lee Bowker; several nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in the great north east steel town of Bethlehem Pennsylvania, God made sure to put some of that steel inside Mom when she was born. Ever the ultimate motivator and competitor that hardened steel attitude drove her to great success throughout every aspect of her life! That steel determination was evident in her athletic career, as mom excelled in field hockey, tennis, and synchronized swimming at Penn State from ('69-73). She was a pioneer of sorts and told us a story about how women at Penn State didn't get a varsity letter blanket after their Senior year was completed the way the men did. At the end of mom's time at school she went in and talked to the school's athletic director and suggested that it would be a good idea that women also receive one as a sign of their hard work and sacrifice just as the men do. Mom graduated and moved on with her life, but the next year women did start to receive the varsity blanket. She was never 100% sure she was the reason behind the change, but took pride in thinking she had made a difference.

It wasn't until just after Mom was diagnosed again in July of 2014 that her friend and college teammate and roommate, Sue (Krebs) Denny, wrote to Penn State explaining moms condition and that she had never received a blanket that she finally got what she had earned. Mom moved on to Liberty, Missouri to become the city's Parks and Recreation Director. There is where she would meet her Husband Joe Stapf. Mom and Dad would always tell us the story of them meeting or at least Dads pathetic, cheesy attempt to pick her up her by driving over to "borrow her vacuum." Always poking fun at Dad over his attempted pick-up line...but Dad always countered that it worked like a charm...I guess it did mom as you guys spent the next 38 years together, loving each other and loving us kids.

After being married in 1976, Mom and Dad moved to Michigan in 1978. Dad had taken a job with the City of Wyoming, and he would spend the next 30 years working to support our family, and where Mom would begin what would really become her passion and legacy and eclipse any athletic success she could ever imagine--raising us 4 kids. First came myself, Bennett, then Marleah, followed by Dan, and Jillian. Over the next few decades Mom made taking care of her family her sole purpose in life. That good old Bethlehem Steel attitude was definitely obvious in our household every day. If we got hurt or at least acted like it, mom would always ask us (after making sure there really wasn't something major wrong), "are you bleeding?" If we said no, then she followed that up with a "you're fine then. Get up and get back at it." That would resonate with us as we grew up and got involved in different things, and it continues to resonate with us now. Mom definitely took that attitude as she fought this courageous battle against cancer. Mom was a woman of great unashamed intensity, as I'm sure many of you already know. Especially those that sat near her during any sporting event that one of us kids was participating in. We always kidded Mom about some of that, but also loved it (most of it) at the same time. Early in our years we all BMX raced and I can still hear mom yelling to us from the side of the track, PEDDLE BENNETT!! PEDDLE MARS!! PEDDLE DAN!!! PEDDLE JILL!! PEDDLE PEDDLE PEDDLE! Know mom that we will always peddle and continue peddling as hard as you told us to for the rest of our lives at whatever it is we are doing! There is now a solid steel of a woman in heaven and we take comfort in believing that God now has one of his strongest angels by his side.

Visitation with the family will be held 2-4PM and 6-8PM Sunday, February 22, 2015 at Cook Funeral Home (East Building) 4235 Prairie St SW, Grandville, MI. Funeral service will be held at 11AM Monday, February 23, 2015 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church - 1481 Baldwin, Jenison, MI 49428. Pastor David Rufner from New Hope Lutheran Church will be officiating. Interment will be at Georgetown Cemetery. In honor of Connie, contributions may be made to the Mercy Health Lacks Cancer Center or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.cookcares.com.

Visitation Sunday, February 22 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Cook Memorial Chapel (East building) 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI (616) 534-7619

Funeral Service Monday, February 23 11:00 AM Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1418 Baldwin Street Jenison, MI

Lunch Following Service Monday February 23 New Hope Lutheran Church 3232 Port Sheldon Rd. Hudsonville, MI