STEARNS, William F. 1911-2009

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STEARNS, William F. 1911-2009

STEARNS, TUPPER, CORNELL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/26/2009 at 10:59:51

OSAGE, IOWA - William F. Stearns, age 97, of Iowa City and formerly of Osage, died Monday (March 23, 2009) at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the United Church of Christ in Osage with Pastor Ruth Moerdyk officiating. Burial will be at the Osage Cemetery.
Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, and will continue one hour before services at the church.
Mr. Stearns was born in Osage on Aug. 10, 1911, the son of Fred and Zadie (Tupper) Stearns. He graduated from Osage High School in 1927. He graduated from Iowa State University in ceramics engineering and was a manager of the wrestling team and member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.
He moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1935. On March 28, 1936, he married Leora Cornell in Grand Rapids.
His company, Kelvinator Corp., began producing armor plate during World War II. He later worked for A.B. Stoves, in Battle Creek, Mich., producing airplane parts for the war effort. In 1949, he moved to Osage, becoming a partner in Burns Insurance Agency. A year later, its name was changed to Stearns Insurance Agency, and he became president of the Home Savings and Loan Association. He was president of the Iowa Savings and Loan League in 1965-66. Mr. Stearns retired in 1976. In 2002, he moved to Iowa City to live with his daughter, Anne Tanner.
Mr. Stearns was active in the United Church of Christ in Osage and the Congregational Church of Christ in Iowa City. He belonged to the Rotary Club and Masonic organizations. He also helped to establish Hamlin Garland Homes and was instrumental in the effort to build the new Osage Library. For many years he was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross, and he enjoyed gardening and golfing at Sunny Brae Golf Club.
Mr. Stearns is survived by his daughter, Anne Tanner of Iowa City; a son, Frederic William (Linda) Stearns, Tulsa, Okla; two granddaughters, Gillian Lind Stearns of Seattle, Wash., and Victoria Cornell Stearns of New York City; a sister, Helen French of Stacyville; and three nieces, Nan (Jerry) Danforth of Cedar Rapids, Jean (Lars) Larson of Fairfax, Va., and Sally (Bob) Miller of New Haven.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leora Stearns, on May 11, 1982; two sisters, Mazie Stearns and Bee Bradford; and a brother, Dr. Frederic T. Stearns.
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, is in charge of the arrangements, 641-732-3706.
[Published in the Globe Gazette - 3/26/2009]

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Obituary: OSAGE, IOWA - William F. Stearns, age 97, of Iowa City and formerly of Osage, died Monday (March 23, 2009) at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the United Church of Christ in Osage with Pastor Ruth Moerdyk officiating. Burial will be at the Osage Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, and will continue one hour before services at the church. Mr. Stearns was born in Osage on Aug. 10, 1911, the son of Fred and Zadie (Tupper) Stearns. He graduated from Osage High School in 1927. He graduated from Iowa State University in ceramics engineering and was a manager of the wrestling team and member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1935. On March 28, 1936, he married Leora Cornell in Grand Rapids. His company, Kelvinator Corp., began producing armor plate during World War II. He later worked for A.B. Stoves, in Battle Creek, Mich., producing airplane parts for the war effort. In 1949, he moved to Osage, becoming a partner in Burns Insurance Agency. A year later, its name was changed to Stearns Insurance Agency, and he became president of the Home Savings and Loan Association. He was president of the Iowa Savings and Loan League in 1965-66. Mr. Stearns retired in 1976. In 2002, he moved to Iowa City to live with his daughter, Anne Tanner. Mr. Stearns was active in the United Church of Christ in Osage and the Congregational Church of Christ in Iowa City. He belonged to the Rotary Club and Masonic organizations. He also helped to establish Hamlin Garland Homes and was instrumental in the effort to build the new Osage Library. For many years he was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross, and he enjoyed gardening and golfing at Sunny Brae Golf Club. Mr. Stearns is survived by his daughter, Anne Tanner of Iowa City; a son, Frederic William (Linda) Stearns, Tulsa, Okla; two granddaughters, Gillian Lind Stearns of Seattle, Wash., and Victoria Cornell Stearns of New York City; a sister, Helen French of Stacyville; and three nieces, Nan (Jerry) Danforth of Cedar Rapids, Jean (Lars) Larson of Fairfax, Va., and Sally (Bob) Miller of New Haven. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leora Stearns, on May 11, 1982; two sisters, Mazie Stearns and Bee Bradford; and a brother, Dr. Frederic T. Stearns. Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, is in charge of the arrangements, 641-732-3706. [Published in the Globe Gazette - 3/26/2009]
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