TOWANDA - Mary Lou Stover, 81, Muskego, Wis., and formerly of Towanda, passed away Wednesday (Feb. 4, 2009) at her residence.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington. Burial will be at Pennell Cemetery, Towanda. Pastor Randy Starnes will be officiating.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 Sunday at the Randle-Dable Funeral Home, Waukesha, Wis., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Beck Memorial Home.

Memorials may be made to Midwest Tool Collector's Club, Endowment Fund For Preservation mail to M.W.T.C., P.O. Box 355, Humboldt, IA 50548-0535; or Wisconsin Humane Society, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208. Arrangements are being handled by Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington.

She was born March 25, 1927 in Towanda, the daughter of Bernie Leland and Margaret Bridget Sweeney Stover.

Surviving are three sisters, Eleanor E. Peden, Towanda; Helen (Leslie) Mitchell, Petersburg; and Margaret Dady, Normal. Also surviving are 10 nieces and nephews, Leslie (Kathy) Mitchell, Washington; James P. (Candace) Dady, Normal; Mary (Kenneth) Calvert, Bloomington; Margaret Lamsargis, Springfield; Susan (James) Van Dolah, Noblesville, Ind.; Mark (Jacqueline) Peden, Champaign; Kathy (Larry) Dady Youngs, Decatur, Ga.; Robert Mitchell, Springfield; Nancy (Curt) Bowden, Traverse City, Mich.; and Sharon (Tim) Bachman, Roanoke; niece-in-law, Ann Dady, Bloomington; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one nephew, Michael Dady; and longtime friend, Carol Lomax.

She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees. She was a member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

She was the former co-owner of the Abingdon Argus, Abingdon. She was a former editor in-chief of the Community Newspapers Wisconsin. After retirement, she remained active in the family farm in Towanda.

She collected pottery and woodworking tools. She was a member of the Midwest Tool Collectors Club. She enjoyed sports and travel.