Michael R. Stutsman

STUTSMAN, JACKOWELL, HENDERSHOTT

Posted By: Harvey Henry (email)
Date: 4/11/2009 at 10:24:52

Michael R. Stutsman
Born: February 09, 1975
Died: November 25, 2008
Services:Services will be held Monday at 11:00 am at Sharon Center United Methodist Church, 2804 520th Street SW, north of Kalona. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation:Saturday, 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Lensing Funeral Service, 605 Kirkwood Avenue in Iowa City. Sunday, 2:00 to 7:00 pm at Sharon Center United Methodist Church, 2804 520th Street SW. Memorials may be directed to an education fund to be established for Mike & Jessica's daughter Sophie.

Michael was born February 9, 1975 in Iowa City, the son of Roger and Sally (Jackowell) Stutsman. He was a 1993 graduate of West High School and attended Wartburg College, Waverly. Michael graduated from Iowa State University and Evergreen State University, Olympia, WA. He spent two years with the Washington Conservation Corps and the Forest Service in Washington State working with Bull Trout and soil and water conservation. While in Washington, he co-authored a research paper on the impact of the environment on Bull Trout, an endangered species. Michael helped to re-establish salmon runs with the Yurok Indian Tribe on the Klamath River in Northern CA.

Michael married Jessica Hendershott on December 17, 2004 at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers in Northern California. He and Jessica moved back to Iowa City to be closer to family and work with his Dad on the farm. Michael and Jessica’s daughter Sophie May was born August 19, 2008. He was a wonderful father and adored his daughter.

While in 4-H Mike loved showing cattle and was the only individual in the history of the Iowa Beef Expo to win both Grand and Reserve Champion Steer in the same year. His passion was raising organic produce on Dirty Face Creek Farm and selling that produce to local restaurants and New Pioneer Co-Op.

Most of all Mike was a kind, honest and loving person who was absolutely devoted to his wife and daughter. He was a very dedicated individual, possessed a strong work ethic and was full of integrity. Mike had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and prided himself on his wicked sense of humor.
He was a master pizza maker. We will always remember his smile and upbeat attitude.

Michael was an organ donor and gave the gift of life after his death.

Michael is survived by his wife, Jessica and their daughter, Sophie May; his parents, Roger and Sally Stutsman; his father and mother-in-law Bill and Shirley Hendershott of Ohio; brother and sister-in-law Jason and Karen Hendershott of CA and their children Tennyson, Olivia and Samuel; his dogs Fozzy and Lily; aunts and uncles, Ron and Virginia Stutsman ,Jim and Jill Stutsman, Donna and Terry Davis, and Cathie Berglund and Bill Tompkins, all of Iowa City; Carolyn and Lew Holliday of Jacksonville, FL; Sheri and Jim Schneider of Onalaska, WI; many cousins whom he loved.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.