Sanders, Steven Charles

Steven Charles Sanders was born Sept. 15, 1948, in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Stanley and Berniece (VanFossen) Sanders. He graduated in 1966 from Starmont High School. In 1970, he graduated with his B.S. degree from Kansas State Teachers College.

Steve was united in marriage to Kathy Lint on Aug. 28, 1967, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They had a daughter, Elizabeth. They were later divorced. In 1994, he married Jan Humpage and later they divorced.

For one year Steve was a teacher and wrestling coach at Washington High School USD 500 at Kansas City, Kan., and then taught business classes and wrestling at Kansas City Junior College for one year. For two years he taught at Platt Business College in Kansas City until 1974. From 1975 until 1985, he owned and operated Hardwood Originals which manufactured water beds. His company had seven stores in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. In 1985, he returned to the family farm near Masonville, Iowa, where he farmed 705 acres and raised beef cattle and Muscovy ducks. He was the largest duck producer in Northeast Iowa.

Being a member of Grace United Methodist Church at Lamont, Steve was a Sunday school teacher and participated in the Living Last Supper. He was very community-minded and active in the Starmont Wrestling Club, Starmont Dollars for Scholars, Buchanan County Cattleman's Association, Corn Growers Association and Masonic Solomon Lodge 594. He was instrumental in starting the Common Grounds Coffee House, Lamont Mat Rats Wrestling Club, Kids Center and Community Gardens and organized the Santa Claus and Easter Bunny visits in Lamont. He was the proud owner of the Lamont Leader and Lamont Feed Mill Antiques shop in Lamont.

At the age of 63 years, Steven Sanders entered into his eternal rest on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at his farm home, with multiple myeloma cancer.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors include his special friend, Joyce Geistkemper of Fayette; his daughter, Elizabeth Sanders of Masonville; three sisters, Ann (Butch Wessels) Wulfekuhle of Lamont, JoLayne (Jack) Weber of Webster City and Vicki (Jeff) Barker of Cedar Rapids; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at Grace United Methodist Church in Lamont with Pastor John Brockschink officiating. Music will be provided by organist Karen Kremer. Honorary bearers will be Nick McAllister, Brandon Cornwell, Seth Hagenson and Jessica Schultz. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 3 until 7 p.m., at which time a Masonic service will take place. Inurnment will be on the family farm.

A memorial fund has been established.

The Fawcett Funeral Home of Lamont assisted the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at  under obituaries.

Published Nov. 24, 2011, in The Gazette