STEVEN, James Delbert 1928-2016

STEVEN, LAMPE, PILCHER

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 8/17/2016 at 11:28:04

Obituary for James D. Steven

James D. "Jim" Steven age 87 of New Hampton, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington, with Rev. Mark Osterhaus presiding.

Interment will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, North Washington with Jarad Steven, Tanner Sorensen, Jordan Sorensen, Robb Steven, Matt Steven, Riley Siemers, Ryan McLaughlin and Lauren Steven serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Friends may greet the family 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2016, at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday.

James Delbert Steven was born June 23, 1928, in Wallingford, Iowa, the son of JP and Hazel (Pilcher) Steven. He attended country schools and graduated from Burt High School. Jim served in the United States Navy from 1945 - 1947. He was stationed in Hawaii and Treasure Island San Francisco, CA, during his service. Jim worked as an IBM programmer working on one of the first computers.

Jim returned from the service and met Ethel Lampe while riding horseback on her family's farm. The couple was married on December 26, 1951, at St. Johns in Bancroft, Iowa. To this union eight children were born.

After marriage, Jim and Ethel lived and farmed in Titonka, Iowa. In the early 1960's they purchased land by North Washington, where they spent their lives farming the land, taking care of their animals, and raising their eight children together. At the end of his farming career Jim worked for Baltes Oil Company in North Washington. In 2014, Jim and Ethel purchased a home in New Hampton.

In high school, Jim joined the boxing team and when in the Navy, boxed on a club team. He had a deep passion for horses that started when he was a young boy. Horses could always be found on the Steven farm. He loved farming and the hard work and dedication that it took to be a good farmer.

Jim enjoyed fishing, bingo, and old Westerns, especially with John Wayne. He had a great time traveling on road trips with his good friend Vince. While their wives were out biking, the two enjoyed excursions around Northeast Iowa, that included, fishing and local farm and machinery auctions.

In his later years, Jim loved to visit with friends and could be found Wednesday mornings at the weekly McDonald's coffee group. He enjoyed being part of the North Washington's Men's Choir, and going to his children and grandchildren's sporting events. He was a member of the Catholic Foresters, Knights of Columbus, and the local VFW.

James is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ethel; five sons, Jerry (Patty) Steven of Elma, Iowa, Gary (Linda) Steven of New Hampton, Iowa, Ron (Lana) Steven of Carlsbad, NM, Russ (Lisa) Steven of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Craig (Shilo) Steven of Peosta, Iowa; three daughters, Sheryl McLaughlin of Fredericksburg, Iowa, Laurie (Ted) Sorensen of New Hampton, Iowa and Cindy (Jack) Siemers of Waverly, Iowa; twenty two grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and five great-step grandchildren; three brothers, Don Steven of Niles, MI, Ken Steven of Dayton, TN and Milton (Doris) Steven of Decater, TN; two sisters, Burnadene Opheim of Burt, Iowa, and Jean Long of Humboldt, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Lucille Steven; and sister-in-law, Florence Steven.

Source: Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home website