Stephens, David E. 'Dave'

David E."Dave" Stephens, 69, of Tipton, died at his home Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, of pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by loved ones at his passage. Celebration of Life will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton, with the Rev. Donnita Moeller officiating. Burial will be at Oregon Township Cemetery, Ainsworth. Friends may call from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the family home south of Tipton.

The family requests no flowers. Please plant a tree in your yard in memory of Dave or memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton or to Caring Bridge.

Mr. Stephens was born Feb. 21, 1940, at Ainsworth, the son of Gene and Ethel (Martin) Stephens. He married Janel Joy Souhrada at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lime Springs, Iowa, on Aug. 27, 1960. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1957 and from Iowa State University in 1961. He was a banking executive his entire career, serving in five Illinois and Iowa banks between 1961 and 2005. He was president of the Tipton USBank when he retired.

Mr. Stephens was a highly active community leader with a unique combination of business, music and social skills, as well as a fine sense of humor. In addition to his banking duties, he also led many church choirs and community choruses. Mr. Stephens served on numerous city councils and school boards. He loved the trombone and had a strong baritone voice, often providing solos for weddings, funerals and other special events. He was a 37-year Rotary member and served for many years as board member and then president of the Tipton Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO). Dave also supported the Cedarland Harvest of Hope. He was a highly enthusiastic Iowa State Cyclones fan who also loved hunting, fishing, camping and hiking with family and friends. He and his team of Percheron work horses often led parades and enlivened other community events. He had a strong sense of Western history, and read every book written by Louis Lamour and enjoyed military history books. Dave also enjoyed his wife, Janel's Czech heritage. The couple visited Janel's relatives in the Czech Republic three times and Dave enjoyed visiting with Janel's Czech relatives in Eastern Iowa.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Susan Stephens Callaway, husband, Paul, and daughter, Savannah Joy, of Tipton and Sara Stephens Kotrba, husband, Bill, and children, John Calvin and Mary Ray, of Eagan, Minn.; sisters, Maurine Stephens Roberts of Washington and Kathy Stephens Holthaus of Glendale, Ariz.; brother, Jim Stephens of Washington; mother-in-law, Hope Souhrada of Lime Springs; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dave and Cherie Souhrada of Denver, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Dave was a man of deep faith who believed in music as beautiful medium to connect people with their own Christian faith. This past Easter he directed “The Seven Last Words of Christ,” performed by the Tipton Community Choir and instrumentalists. Family members remember Dave with the Scripture of 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

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