JOHN E. STEPHENS

    John E. Stephens, son of Dwight F. and  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 two 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 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.
    John had a stroke and became a resident of the Indianola Good Samaritan Home for the last five 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 two 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 a.m. to 11 a.m. with services beginning at 11 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.
    Online condolences maybe left at www.watsonarmstrongfh.com.