John Stephens

John E. Stephens, son of Dwight F. & Mary B. (Brown) Stephens, was born July 26, 1941, on the farm that his great grandfather homesteaded, south of Mount Ayr, Iowa.

The family moved to Martensdale, Iowa where John graduated from high school.

John served in the US Navy from October 26, 1959 until October 25, 1963 when he entered the Navy Reserves; receiving an honorable discharge in 1981. John married Cecilia Replogle in 1964 and 2 children were born to this union; Elizabeth and David.

They lived in California until Cecilia's M.S. caused them to move back to Martensdale. Cecilia passed away in July 1976. John later married Barbara Sanders and she passed away in 1998.

John worked at the Indianola Community School for many years. He also worked as a janitor for the State of Iowa in the Hoover Building in Des Moines. He was well loved because of his great personality.

John served the community of Martensdale with his time on the city council and by being a volunteer fireman for many years. He also belonged to the Lions Club. He attended Lee Town Assembly of God Church in Des Moines.

John had a stroke and became a resident of the Indianola Good Samaritan Home for the last 5 years. He had recently moved to the Winterset Care Center North in August 2015 where he passed away peacefully on September 25, 2015.

He was preceded in death by his parents; both wives; and a brother Dwight Charles (Chuck) Stephens.

Survivors include his 2 children Elizabeth Stephens and David Stephens; 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; sister Martina Vest and brother-in-law Floyd Maxon; other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Saturday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Bill Armstrong officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be conducted at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr where John will be buried next to his wife Cecilia.

To plant memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Stephens, please visit our flower store.

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With deep sympathy to the Stephens family. May the words of Jesus found at John 6:40, bring comfort and peace to you at your bereavement.

~D. Reynolds

Posted by A friend   October 01, 2015

Nov 30 0001 12:00 AM

Dear Elizabeth and David

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Faith, time and knowing John was a good man and is now at peace will help you through your loss.

Take care.

Brent Ripperger

Posted by Brent Ripperger - Urbandale, IA   September 30, 2015

Nov 30 0001 12:00 AM

One of my fondest memories of Uncle John was our family visit to see Uncle John when he was stationed at the naval base in Los Angeles. I was very young but....There are four things that I do remember distinctly from that trip to see him. We ate Chef Boy R Dee ravioli that mom heated on a hot plate in the hotel room, we thought it was a wonderful treat. We had bananas growing on trees just outside our hotel room door. Third, I had picked up a sea shell when we went to the beach and I had placed it on one of the back fins to our station wagon so that I wouldn''t lose it and then I forgot to pick it up and put it in my pocket when we left the beach. That sea shell rode on that fin all the way back to the hotel! I still have that seashell somewhere because I figured if it rode at that way back to the hotel, then I was meant to make that seashell mine. The fourth thing I remember were the "oh so delicious" banana flips that Uncle John bought for each of us! I love banana flips to this day and I must say that they are getting harder to find. When I do find them I always buy two, one to devour right away and one to savor later while reminiscing about my Uncle John.
I love you Uncle John and I will miss you. Patti

Posted by Patti Vest Simmons - Lititz, PA - niece, daughter of Martina   September 30, 2015

Nov 30 0001 12:00 AM