Denise Irene (Stanke) Van Eaton
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Denise Stanke Van Eaton, age 64, of Buckner, Missouri returned to our Lord on September 3, 2020 at Centerpoint Hospital in Independence, Missouri. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at the Buckner Restoration Branch.
Denise was born March 12, 1956 in Lansing, Michigan. She grew up on the family farm in East Lansing, which is where her love of horses and all animals began. In her youth, Denise was very active in 4H, loved to give horse riding lessons and spent most of her time on the family horse farm, Chapel Hills.
After graduating from Haslett High School in 1974, she went on to attend Mason Michigan Career Center where she specialized in Histology. Denise worked at Michigan State University in the histology department until she moved to Buckner, Missouri in 1982. Denise continued her career in histology after moving to Missouri and worked at St. Joseph Hospital, Independence Regional Hospital and Litton Labs where she made many lifelong friends.
Denise spent most of her spare time surrounding herself with her Missouri family where she passed on her love for animals, music, the guitar, and Star Trek. She met Randy Van Eaton at Buckner Restoration Branch and they were blessed with 30 years of marriage. Throughout the years, Denise remained active with her church helping in any way she could such as providing meals to those in need, serving on various committees, teaching bible school classes, serving as Treasurer of the Women’s Department, Assistant Women’s Leader, and Women’s Leader. She graciously gave her time to bake the communion bread for 30 plus years. Denise had the heart of a true servant and a deep love for our Heavenly Father and his precious son Jesus. Denise’s greatest loves were always her church, her family, and her friends.
She was an adopted mother to many and even though she might have been small in stature, she was a giant when it came to protecting a friend or family member. Her smile, kindness, thoughtfulness, sweet giggle and soft-spoken spirit will be sorely missed by all.
Denise was preceded in death by: her mother, Shirley Stanke and brother, Donnie Stanke. Survivors include: husband, Randall Van Eaton; father, Douglas Stanke, Warrensburg, Missouri; brother, Gary Stanke and sister in law, Claudia Stanke, St. Petersburg, Florida; sister, Janet Mulvaney, brother in law Don Mulvaney, Opelika, Alabama along with a niece, nephews, great nephew, aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Buckner Restoration Branch.
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Oh, how I’ll miss our deep-rooted conversations! We could talk for hours about church, family, blessings in life, as well as share our personal struggles. She was a great listener, quick with encouragement… and, a better prayer warrior could not be found! We joked about always being on the same “wavelength”, as we often reached out to each other, at the same time the other was thinking/praying for them. The Lord blessed me with our association… whether it be as doctor/patient, prayer warriors, friends. I’m so excited that Denise is finally getting ALL her questions answered… while sitting at he Master’s feet! I will miss you, dear friend… can’t wait to see you, again…in His Kingdom… soon! Blessings.