Lois Eileen Coursey
April 24, 2016Share using:
Lois Eileen Coursey, 80, of Dubuque, died suddenly at home on Sunday, April 24 of a pulmonary embolism. She was born on March 7, 1936 in Pinedale, Wyoming. She was the fourth daughter born to Henry and Josephine Jons, who owned a 10,000 acre cattle ranch in Sublette County, Wyoming. When Eileen was 4 years old, her father and grandfather were killed in an automobile accident. The Family then moved to Riverton, Wyo.
She graduated from high school in Riverton, Wyo. Then she attended and graduated from The University of Montana in Missoula Mt. After college, she accepted a teaching position for two years at a junior high school in North Bend, Oregon. In 1960 she moved to Iowa to become librarian at Dubuque Senior High School, a position she held until she retired in 1987.
Eileen married Wayne Coursey on September 1, 1961. Wayne graduated in 1957 in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University, Bozeman MT. and moved to Dubuque to do engineering projects for the John Deere Dubuque Works. In 1964, together they founded PAM Imports, a business dealing with sports cars, mainly Porsche and BMW. In 1967 they also became a franchised BMW motorcycle dealer. They operated this business until 2005, at which time they unsuccessfully attempted to retire. Since they lived above the shop, the customers never stopped coming.
Eileen’s memberships included: Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization for woman educators, The Mayflower society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Julien chapter, The Iowa Poetry Association, where she served as grade school editor for 20 years, Dubuque Retired School Personnel, and The Herb Society at the Dubuque Arboretum.
She and Wayne belonged to a Chicago Motorcycle group called The Streeterville Scramblers. This group sponsored motorcycle trips all over the world. Sitting behind Wayne on a BMW motorcycle, she traveled the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Europe in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Wales, Scotland, and The Isle of Mann.
Wayne learned to fly while living in Montana and continued flying after moving to Iowa. As a special gift to Wayne in 1977, Eileen purchased a 1973 Piper Arrow aircraft, which she named Yellow Bird. They operated Yellow Bird for 35 years until it was destroyed on the ground at the Dubuque Regional Airport by a strong storm in 2010. Eileen was the stewardess on Yellow Bird. She managed the flight charts, helped fly and navigate, and served food and beverages.
Eileen is survived by; her Husband of nearly 55 years, Sisters; Kay Roelfsema, Iowa Falls, IA and Patty Anderson, Riverton, Wyo., and two miniature dachshunds, Sally and Star.
She was preceded in death by; Sister, Mary Jo King, Her parents, and three brothers-in-law.
A memorial service will be held @ 10:30 A.M., May 21st, 2016 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2155 University Ave., Dubuque, IA.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to Bethany Home, Dubuque Arboretum, and the Dubuque Art Museum.
