Mary Lou Chapla-Stokvis
Mary Lou Chapla-Stokvis, age 77, of Macomb, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Blessing Hospital in Quincy surrounded by loved ones. She was born on April 15, 1946 in Albuquerque, NM. She first married Danny Chapla and to their union came two sons, Troy and Dano. She later married Johan “Jeff” Stokvis who became the rock in her life for the past 40 years.
Mary Lou worked in the Zoning and Planning department for the City of Wheatridge, CO, where she retired in 2002. She was a member of Grace Church in Arvada, CO.
Mary Lou loved reading, finding a good deal at Kohl’s and socializing with friends where she enjoyed to laugh – often at her own expense. She also had a passion for music that started with Elvis, then Neil Diamond and later in life, Sting. She often would be the first to discover a new band on KBCO and would demand that her two sons drop what they were doing to immediately listen to them. After retirement she and Jeff bought an RV and took several trips touring the country with their two dogs, Marcie and Milo. Wanting to escape the population explosion in Colorado, they moved several times in the last 5 years, the last of which was to Macomb, IL where she could be closer to family.
In addition to her husband Jeff, Mary Lou is also survived by:
CHILDREN: Troy Chapla (Kelly), Dan Chapla (Gara), Michelle Stokvis, Jeffrey Stokvis (Joyce).
SON-IN-LAW: Glenn Hack
GRANDCHILDREN: Kelcie Howard (Zach), Zach Chapla, Ivy Chapla, Luke Chapla, Jauton Bender (Jeremy), Adam Rheinhart, Karina Spiewak, Joshua Spiewak, Servaas Stokvis, Ashton Stokvis and Zachary Stokvis (Devon).
3 great grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her father Moke Wittka and her mother Helen Keller Barnard along with her husband Shorty Barnard, a daughter Tonia Hack, grandchildren Marley Chapla and Saige Hack and a sister Jeannie Tadolini.
Cremation rites have been accorded and no formal services are planned at this time. THE FAMILY WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORIES OF MARY LOU. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST THEM ON THE WEBSITE OR MAIL A CARD OR LETTER. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
My condolences to you Gara and family…
Wow what a beautiful lady Aunt Marylou was..It makes me sad that we didn’t stay in touch but it sounds like her life was grand. She always made us smile as kids we thought she was the cool Aunt. So young and so beautiful. She will be missed
We knew Mary Lloyd for many yrs. We met her through her sister, Jeannie. We enjoyed many fun events with her, weddings, graduations, fishing trips. We will cherish our memories of her always. We knew Troy best of her 2 sons, they both are great young men. We had lots of laughs, she had an infectious laugh and great sense of humor and was loved by all who knew her. Love to all her family, Jeff, Troy, Dani families and extended families
Mary Lou was my cousin but I thought of her as my Aunt. My parents loved having her and Jeff over anytime. She was the greatest lady and will be missed. I’ll never forget the trips to lake Mac in Nebraska. Those were the best days of my childhood. Thank you Aunt Lou Lou for all the memories! Give mom and dad a huge hug for me…..and catch lots of fish 😘
Title: In Loving Memory of Mary Lou: A Testament to Enduring Love
In the tapestry of life, there are threads that stand out, shining bright amidst the mundane. For me, one such radiant thread was my beloved wife, Mary Lou. From the moment our paths crossed, I knew she was destined to weave her way into the fabric of my existence, leaving an indelible mark that would forever alter the course of my life.
I remember the day we met as if it were yesterday. There was a certain magic in the air, a palpable energy that seemed to envelop us both as our eyes locked for the first time. In that instant, I felt as though I had been struck by lightning, electrified by the sheer force of her presence. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than just her physical appearance that captivated me. There was a kindness in her eyes, a warmth in her smile, that spoke to depths of character I had rarely encountered before.
From that moment on, Mary Lou became my anchor, my guiding light in a world that often seemed dark and uncertain. She had a way of seeing past the facade I had erected around my heart, penetrating the layers of cynicism and self-doubt to reveal the vulnerable soul that lay beneath. With her gentle touch and unwavering love, she helped to chip away at the hardness that had taken root in my heart, replacing it with a sense of warmth and openness that I had long thought lost.
For forty years, we walked hand in hand, navigating the highs and lows of life together. We laughed, we cried, we shared our hopes and dreams, building a life filled with love and laughter. But then, like a thief in the night, cancer stole her from me, leaving me adrift in a sea of grief and sorrow.
Mary Lou fought bravely, with a strength and resilience that left me in awe. She faced each new challenge with grace and dignity, never once allowing the disease to dim the light that shone so brightly within her. And though the battle was long and arduous, in the end, it was a battle she could not win.
Her passing left a void in my life that can never be filled, a gaping wound that refuses to heal. But even in death, Mary Lou’s spirit lives on, a beacon of hope and inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her love continues to guide me, like a lighthouse in the storm, leading me safely through the darkness until we are reunited once more.
In the end, I am left with a heart overflowing with gratitude for having known such a remarkable woman, for having been blessed with her love for forty precious years. Though the pain of her loss may never fully fade, I take comfort in the knowledge that our love will endure for all eternity, a testament to the power of love to transcend even the darkest of days.
So here’s to you, my beautiful and amazing wife, Mary Lou. Though you may be gone from this world, your love will live on in the hearts of all who knew you, a legacy of love and light that will never be extinguished. Until we meet again, my love, may you rest in peace.
What can I say about aunt Lulu.? As a child, aunt Lulu was what you would call the perfect aunt. She always seemed to be happy, always laughing and smiling, making me feel welcome and loved. When I was little and we lived fairly close together we always spent lots of time with aunt Lulu and Troy and Dano. They were our best friends and we always couldn’t wait to be together. so many of my favorite childhood memories always seem to include aunt Lulu, which shows how often we were all together. I remember when they moved to Las Vegas how bummed I was that we would not be together as much but aunt Lulu always found a way for us to see each other. She brought me out to spend some summers with the boys and I’ll never forget those times. One time when I was visiting I was throwing Dano from one bed to another in their room with my legs and he broke his arm. I was so scared for how much trouble we were going to be in but she handled it with so much patience although I know she was mad at me lol I thought for sure she was going to send me right home. It’s funny how you remember some of the most insignificant things, but I also remember how I loved her tuna salad sandwiches lol I think that’s why I love tuna sandwiches so much today. One time at Lake McConaughey I’ll never forget she was fishing, and we were laughing at her because she reeled her, spinner all the way up to the end of the rod and thought she had a fish on and continued to real the spinner until the rod broke lol she took it so well, and I reminded her of that story almost every time I would see her she probably got tired of that lol. Aunt Lulu and I both loved Elvis and I am so lucky to say that I got to see Elvis Presley with my aunt Lou. it was one of his last concerts. When we got older and drifted apart, as most families do one of her favorite jokes when we would see her, was that she would say I reminded her of cousin Eddie on vacation movies now come on aunt Lulu I’m a little redneck but not that bad lol. my mom and aunt Lulu we’re sisters, but they were also best friends, a relationship like no other how awesome is that. as a man of faith, I truly believe that they are with their mother and together right now. Amen. not everyone gets an aunt Lulu, but I did, and I will always love her and never forget her she will be missed dearly.
Mary lou was my step mom we didn’t always see eye to eye but what family does I truly loved her she had a great sense of humor and was a good peace keeper what I love most is who she was to my dad she was able to truly make him happy and more patient with his kids I wasn’t always a good kid but she truly was dad’s rock and saving grace. You will be missed love you Marylou I’m so glad you’re at peace and not in anymore pain