Arthur W. Sterrett

Arthur Wayne Sterrett, 85, of Muscatine, Iowa died July 9, 2018, in JPO Retirement Home, Dalzell, after a short battle with cancer.

A memorial open house will be 4:30-7 PM Saturday in Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, Muscatine. Burial of ashes will be at 11:00 AM Monday in Emerson, MO. The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle, also assisted the family.

Mr. Sterrett was born September 16, 1932, in Burns, WY, to Sydney and Lavonia (Brinkley) Sterrett. He married Jane Clark on June 15, 1960, in Emerson Christian Church.

The family moved from Egbert, WY, to Missouri near the end of the Dust Bowl era. His father's work as an educator, coach and Methodist minister resulted in the family living in many towns in northeast Missouri and eastern Iowa. He graduated from Auxvasse (MO) High School. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War. He received his bachelor's degree in education and master's in education administration from Northeast Missouri State University. He furthered his studies at Illinois State University and Loyola University Chicago.

He taught social studies and history and coached baseball and basketball in Philadelphia, MO. He held similar positions for nine years at Ashland, IL, where he also served in 1968 as superintendent.

He came to Muscatine Community College as a counselor in 1969. He also coached women's softball, taught, became assistant dean of student services, managed the student center, advised the student senate, set up a human development program, received the Eastern Iowa Community College District Student Development Achievement Award and led intramural programs.

In retirement, he published "Little Giants," a book on Missouri and Iowa small-school high school basketball teams. He also started compiling books on baseball history, including the St. Louis Browns.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Michael) Weaver of Herndon, VA; one son, Craig Sterrett (Debbie Kunkel) of Peru, IL; one grandson; a brother, Ralph (Charlotte) Sterrett of Streator; six nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jane on February 16, 2016.

Memorials may be directed to Illinois Valley Alzheimer's Caring Friends Group in memory of Jane Sterrett.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arthur W. Sterrett, please visit our floral store.