Adele Frances Stillwell

1927 - 2020

Adele Frances (Koepsell) Stillwell

Brentwood - Adele Frances (Koepsell) Stillwell, 93, died on December 14, 2020 in Brentwood, TN where she had been living for the two and a half years with her daughter, Nancy.

Born November 12, 1927 at her family home in Sheboygan, WI, Adele was the daughter of Walter J. and Frances (Weisner) Koepsell.

Adele, a graduate Sheboygan North High School, studied art at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and the Art Institute of Chicago. On February 17, 1951, she married R. Jack Stillwell in Austin, MN. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001. Adele and Jack lived in Austin, MN, before moving to Wauwatosa, WI, and then to Kohler, WI.

In Austin, MN she worked for a photographer color tinting portraits. Adele was active in a Kohler women's bowling group, and as a member of a women's group and Bible study of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sheboygan . She painted throughout her life with many of her works now residing in the homes of her children and grandchildren. She made clothes and costumes for her children, the Kohler High School theater department, and Jack; enjoyed flowers; was a wonderful creative cook; and delighted in the wonder and beauty of the moment. She and Jack enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. Her concern for others was seen in her passionate support of the rights of women and the LGBTQ community, the poor, homeless, and veterans. She was most loved and appreciated for her warm welcome and careful vetting of her children and grandchildren's partners.

She is survived by her son the Reverend Gary D. (Susan) Stillwell of Janesville, WI; daughter-in-law, Virginia M. Stillwell; son, Doctor Scott M. (Cynthia) Stillwell of Green Bay, WI; and daughters Barbara J. (Jarrett) Strawn of Sheboygan, WI; and Nancy S. (Keith) Stillwell Duckett of Brentwood, TN. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents Walter J. and Frances Koepsell; brothers Walter J. Koepsell Jr. and Frederick W. Koepsell; son, Doctor Thomas J. Stillwell (Virginia) Stillwell of Plymouth, MN; grandchild , Logan Strawn; and great-grandchild, Elena Kearns.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial gifts be made to the scholarship fund of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sheboygan, WI, a homeless shelter, or a local food pantry. Expressions of sympathy may be made directly to any family member or through the Reverend Gary Stillwell at stillwellgd@charter.net.

A memorial service will be held later in 2021 at First Congregational United Church of Christ where she had been a life long-time member.