Dylan James Stevens 2006- 2022

STEVENS

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 5/20/2022 at 07:06:40

Dylan James Stevens, was born on October 6, 2006. He greatly blessed the lives of his loving parents, Chris and Tifani Stevens. Dylan passed away on April 30, 2022 at Kossuth Regional Hospital in Algona, Iowa.

Dylan was an amazing brother to his little sister, Emmie. He was very unsure about sharing the spotlight, but as time went on he found many benefits of being a big brother. The main being his little sister would do anything for him. He would call out a request and she would be the first to answer his demands. The love they had for each other was beautiful.

Dylan attended North Union Middle School where he was in eighth grade. Dylan loved school. His friends and the North Union teaching staff made school an incredible experience. Their love for him was shown every day. He especially enjoyed riding the bus, reading, math, music, and visiting the library. He wasn’t always willing to work, so he would use his charm in order to get his way. It usually worked and his teachers were very taken with him. Dylan always made the school day interesting and unexpected. Dylan enjoyed walking the halls alongside his constant companion and aide, Christina Rolling. Together they would visit various classrooms where Dylan was always welcomed with open arms and snuggles.

Dylan was affectionately known as Mr. Sunshine because he brought happiness to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a special ray of sunshine to his mother. The two traveled thousands of miles together for medical trips. Together they sang, talked, and learned the true meaning of patience at appointments. Dylan liked to say, “Patient means you have to wait.” Dylan didn’t mind being patient as long as it meant extra snuggle time with his mama. Dylan was expertly and routinely cared for by doctors and nurses from Kossuth Regional Health Center, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Dental Center of Mason City.

Dylan had a special bond with his dad. They were two peas in a pod and best friends. Dylan loved visiting the fire station and climbing the trucks with his dad. His love for fire trucks inspired them to build a custom fire truck golf cart. Dylan’s favorite fair weather activity was cruising around Swea City in the golf cart. In 2018, Dylan was nominated for Make-a-Wish and received a major fire truck upgrade. His wish was granted by the Battle of the Badges organization. Dylan loved going to their annual fundraising hockey game in Mason City where he cheered on his fellow firefighters.

In his free time Dylan also loved snuggling, reading, road trips, singing, kayaking, camping, and visiting friends and family. Dylan had a special affinity for business cards. He started collecting them from his doctor friends and it steam rolled from there. Eventually Dylan had his own business cards made because he was very particular about the quality and thickness of paper. Dylan especially loved unifix cubes. He would request to sit on the couch with his blanket and bucket of cubes whenever possible. Dylan loved visits from his friends, Adeline and Brylie, who were classmates since kindergarten.

Dylan was also loved by many nurses from Universal Pediatrics. Dylan received in-home care since he was a toddler and met many incredible nurses throughout his care. Dylan was recently cared for by nurses, Beth Will and Michelle Anderson. He enjoyed teasing them relentlessly, arguing with them, and ordering them around. Dylan loved the time he spent with his nurses and they all became an extension of his family.

Dylan met many friends throughout his lifetime, but those he made through the Shayla Bee Fund were among the most memorable. In 2016, Dylan became the 115th child helped by the amazing people from Shayla Bee. Dylan never forgot when his motorcycle friends came to visit. He loved the noisy motorcycles and all the hugs he received from new friends. Jerry Faulkner took Dylan on his last motorcycle ride that day. Dylan gained many angels from the Shayla Bee Fund. Lindsay Nagel and Becky and Chuck Oppedal never forgot Dylan. Shayla Bee was an incredible support for Dylan’s family.

Dylan had to fight for his life from the very beginning. He was born premature and later identified as having a very rare genetic syndrome that led to pulmonary failure. Even though Dylan was taken from us much too soon, he was able to teach us so much, namely love and compassion.

Left to cherish Dylan’s memory are his parents Chris and Tifani Stevens, his sister Emmie Stevens, paternal grandparents Joel and Laurie Stevens, and honorary grandmother Francie Bollinger. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Dylan was greeted in heaven by his maternal grandparents, Vern and Deb Subject; maternal great-grandmother, Betty Huffaker; paternal great-grandparents, Merrill and Cleora Hanson; and his first friend, Will Lewis.

Memorials may be directed to Dylan's family to be given to an organization of the family's choice.

A funeral service was held Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Immanuel Lutheran church in Swea City, Iowa with Pastor Todd Hartsock officiating. Burial was at Swea Township Cemetery, Swea City.

(Source: Henry Olson Funeral Home, Estherville, Iowa.)