Warren P. Stephenson, 20 Sept 1926 - 02 Jun 2015

STEPHENSON, HAGERMAN, THOMAS, GILCHRIST, POST, COY

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/17/2015 at 14:57:02

Warren P. Stephenson, 88, passed away suddenly Tuesday, June 2, 2015, in his home. Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 8, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion by the Rev. Del Bear. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial: Squires Cemetery in Toddville. Military honors by Toddville American Legion Post 674.

Warren was born Sept. 20, 1926, to Ira W. and Stella E. (Hagerman) Stephenson on the Hagerman family farm northwest of Toddville. At the age of 10 1/2, the family moved to the Stephenson homestead one mile west of Lafayette, Iowa, where he had resided ever since. After attending Hagerman No. 9 and Wilson No. 44 country schools, he attended Toddville High School and graduated in 1945. On the day of his graduation, a letter from Uncle Sam was in the mailbox.

After serving in the Army infantry during World War II, Warren returned home to help on the farm. Warren attended Iowa State College a short time. On Nov. 26, 1946, Warren enlisted in the Naval Reserve and after serving 20 years and taking correspondence courses in Navy hospital work, Warren decided to retire from the reserve. Warren had one Army discharge and four U.S. Navy discharges.

Warren met his future wife, Mary L. Thomas, formerly of North English, at the C.S.P.S. Dance Hall in Cedar Rapids, On June 3, 1951, Warren married Mary at Calvary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids. To this union was born one daughter, Dianna L. Mary passed away Jan. 22, 1999, and Warren never remarried.

Warren was a member of Green's Grove Community Church, Toddville American Legion Post 674 and the Cedar Valley Trail Riders Horseman Club of Toddville. Warren served in several capacities in the church. He was a member of Legion Post 674 and served as command service officer and adjunct for 59 years. On the county level, he held offices of first, second and third vice commander and was county commander for two years. Warren also served as treasurer of the Horse Club, on the Linn County Extension for two years and Linn County Veterans Commission for a short time.

Warren's hobbies included riding horses and driving his John Deere tractors in parades. He still owned his dad's first 1941 John Deere Model A tractor that he bought new in July 1941. He loved to dance polkas and old-fashioned waltzes. Tuesday nights were spent in Walford dancing. On April 26, 2011, Warren was honored to go on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Warren and his brother, James, farmed in partnership until James retired in 1991, and then Warren kept farming alone. His grandson took over farming in the spring of 2000. Warren continued to be active in farming, helping his grandson, David Gilchrist, with it until his death.

Surviving Warren are his one daughter, Dianna Gilchrist of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Dee (Matt) Post of Walker, Dawn (Jonathan) Coy of Bondurant and David (Brooke) Gilchrist of Toddville; 12 great-grandchildren, Noah, Tobias and Eden Coy, Luke, Nick and Zach Post, Mya, Leia, Ella, Tate, James and Pria Gilchrist; and his sister-in-law, Janice Stephenson of Center Point.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Stephenson; parents, Ira and Stella Stephenson; and brother, James Stephenson.

Memorials may be directed to Toddville American Legion Post 674 or Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.

Please share a memory of Warren at www. murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

The Gazette, Posted on Thursday, 4 June 2015