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Thursday, December 4, 2008 10:22 PM CST
'Fantastic teacher' fought long battle with disease
East High School alumni revive Nativity tradition
Greensburg, Parkersburg charting similar emotional course
Deere dealer takes lead as Greensburg rebuilds green
Rebuilding Greensburg's Main Street is a work in progress
Volunteers, donors still making a difference after 2007 tornado
Conservation board seeks funds to move
Two killed on icy roads as storm moves across region
'Fantastic teacher' fought long battle with disease
Man airlifted to Iowa City after collision with semi
Convenience store latest target in robbery spree
Firefighters use donated pet oxygen masks after house fire
So close
Angry workers demand answers in Postville
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
'Fantastic teacher' fought long battle with disease
By ANDREW WIND, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO --- A debilitating disease had taken its toll on Judy Fossell.
It landed the retired educator in the hospital for an extended stay. It temporarily robbed her of a voice. It forced her to resign from Waterloo Community Schools' Board of Education.
But friends say they always expected Fossell to recover.
"She had a great desire to live," said retired teacher Angie Glazebrook, who had known Fossell since they were both in college.
"She was a very dedicated individual and was also very unwilling to give up," said Jean Seeland, a Lou Henry Elementary School teacher. "She was a fighter to the end."
That end came Monday afternoon when the 66-year-old died following a five-year struggle with myasthenia gravis. The disease, caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, affected her larynx and trachea.
Complications that sent Fossell to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for 72 days had rendered her unable to speak in spite of a tracheotomy several years ago. She had regained her speaking ability in recent days.
"On Sunday, we had a lovely conversation," Seeland said. "She had just got a new trachea (tube) that allowed her to talk."
After the long hospital stay, Fossell continued having difficulties recovering. She returned to the hospital and then checked into Windsor Nursing & Rehab Center in Cedar Falls, where friends said she stayed for about three weeks.
Still, they believed she would eventually be back in her own home and able to enjoy activities with them like shopping or going to movies.
"She had goals to get back into her normal routines," said retired teacher Marcy Hartleip, another friend who has known Fossell since college.
"To me, it was a shock," Glazebrook said, when she learned Fossell had died.
Fossell had a 37-year career as a teacher and principal with the school district. She became Orange Elementary School's principal in 1993 and remained in the position until retiring in 2001. Two years later, she ran for and won an at-large seat on the Board of Education, not long before being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. She was re-elected in 2006 and resigned in October.
"She was a fantastic teacher, and she was a fantastic administrator," board member Pam Miller said. "She really loved kids and really cared about education. She was the epitome of what an educator should be."
"She was the best child advocate I knew," Glazebrook added.
"I think the hardest thing that Judy had to do was retire from the school board," Hartleip said.
Fossell asked her to help write the resignation letter.
"She cried, that was so difficult," Hartleip said.
She said Fossell "has really been so involved and connected" in the community. Fossell was a member of Waterloo's planning and zoning commission, the Grin and Grow day-care board and the Cedar Valley's Promise elementary education task force.
In the past, she was on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Family & Children's Council.
"She was always thinking of other people," Hartleip said. "I think the most important thing in her life, though, was her family and her students."
Fossell is survived by two siblings, Gene and Jane Dubberke, both of Hubbard, and three nieces and a nephew. Visitation is 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at Locke Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church.
Contact Andrew Wind
at (319) 291-1507 or
andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.
It landed the retired educator in the hospital for an extended stay. It temporarily robbed her of a voice. It forced her to resign from Waterloo Community Schools' Board of Education.
But friends say they always expected Fossell to recover.
"She had a great desire to live," said retired teacher Angie Glazebrook, who had known Fossell since they were both in college.
"She was a very dedicated individual and was also very unwilling to give up," said Jean Seeland, a Lou Henry Elementary School teacher. "She was a fighter to the end."
That end came Monday afternoon when the 66-year-old died following a five-year struggle with myasthenia gravis. The disease, caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, affected her larynx and trachea.
Complications that sent Fossell to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for 72 days had rendered her unable to speak in spite of a tracheotomy several years ago. She had regained her speaking ability in recent days.
"On Sunday, we had a lovely conversation," Seeland said. "She had just got a new trachea (tube) that allowed her to talk."
After the long hospital stay, Fossell continued having difficulties recovering. She returned to the hospital and then checked into Windsor Nursing & Rehab Center in Cedar Falls, where friends said she stayed for about three weeks.
Still, they believed she would eventually be back in her own home and able to enjoy activities with them like shopping or going to movies.
"She had goals to get back into her normal routines," said retired teacher Marcy Hartleip, another friend who has known Fossell since college.
"To me, it was a shock," Glazebrook said, when she learned Fossell had died.
Fossell had a 37-year career as a teacher and principal with the school district. She became Orange Elementary School's principal in 1993 and remained in the position until retiring in 2001. Two years later, she ran for and won an at-large seat on the Board of Education, not long before being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. She was re-elected in 2006 and resigned in October.
"She was a fantastic teacher, and she was a fantastic administrator," board member Pam Miller said. "She really loved kids and really cared about education. She was the epitome of what an educator should be."
"She was the best child advocate I knew," Glazebrook added.
"I think the hardest thing that Judy had to do was retire from the school board," Hartleip said.
Fossell asked her to help write the resignation letter.
"She cried, that was so difficult," Hartleip said.
She said Fossell "has really been so involved and connected" in the community. Fossell was a member of Waterloo's planning and zoning commission, the Grin and Grow day-care board and the Cedar Valley's Promise elementary education task force.
In the past, she was on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Family & Children's Council.
"She was always thinking of other people," Hartleip said. "I think the most important thing in her life, though, was her family and her students."
Fossell is survived by two siblings, Gene and Jane Dubberke, both of Hubbard, and three nieces and a nephew. Visitation is 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at Locke Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church.
Contact Andrew Wind
at (319) 291-1507 or
andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.
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More Stories from News » Local
East High School alumni revive Nativity traditionGreensburg, Parkersburg charting similar emotional course Deere dealer takes lead as Greensburg rebuilds green Rebuilding Greensburg's Main Street is a work in progress Volunteers, donors still making a difference after 2007 tornado Conservation board seeks funds to moveTwo killed on icy roads as storm moves across region'Fantastic teacher' fought long battle with diseaseMan airlifted to Iowa City after collision with semiConvenience store latest target in robbery spreeFirefighters use donated pet oxygen masks after house fireSo closeAngry workers demand answers in Postville 
rob_myers wrote on Dec 4, 2008 6:17 PM:
" Judy was great and Waterloo just lost one of the best teachers!! She loved and cared about every student.
Judy, you will never be forgotten as long as us students are around with our great memories!!! "
Judy, you will never be forgotten as long as us students are around with our great memories!!! "
lfish85@hotmail.com wrote on Dec 4, 2008 10:26 PM:
" Judy Fossell was my first grade teacher at Grant Elementary 17 years ago. She is one of the most memorable teachers I have had, there are several things about her that I have and always will remember! She was very compassionate about teaching and genuinely cared about all of her students and their learning. I am very sad to hear of her passing and my sympathy goes to her family and friends! I'm sure she will be remembered by many for years to come!! "
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DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
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(return of) joe wrote on Dec 4, 2008 12:27 PM: