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Stephens, Don C.
Don C. Stephens of Tiffin, formerly of Fairfax, died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, at home, with family by his side, and while listening to his favorite Big Band music. Per Don's request, his body will be cremated, with Lensing Funeral Service of Iowa City assisting the family. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Grace United Methodist Church, 300 W. Marengo Rd., Tiffin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Don Stephens memorial fund.
Donald Charles Stephens was born Aug. 6, 1922, in Dike, Iowa, the only child of Clarence and Iva (Yockstick) Stephens. He graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1940 and attended Iowa State Teachers College until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in September 1942. He was assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group as a B17 radar operator during the South Pacific campaign and was honorably discharged at the end of the war.
Don was a lifelong salesman and he continued working in retail sales until well into his 80s. He and first wife Donna owned Stephens Inc. for many years in Waterloo. After moving to Cedar Rapids in 1978, Don worked at several retail stores (fine jewelry and clothing) in the Corridor. Don and second wife Dorothy raised their four children on an acreage near Fairfax, where he enjoyed house remodeling, vegetable gardening, raising registered Suffolk sheep and his children's sports and 4-H activities. After they divorced, Don eventually followed Dorothy and the children to Payson, Utah, for several years; the family all returned to Iowa in 2005.
Don is survived by son Matt of Tiffin, and girlfriend Rene Boswell; daughter, Leah Willis and husband DJ and their two boys, Davin and Drake of Cedar Rapids; son, Andrew and wife Amber of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughter, Clare of Tiffin; former wife, Dorothy Metz of Tiffin; and former wife, Donna Stephens and sons Mark and Mike of Memphis.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Don was always ready for new adventure, whether it was it renovating an old farmhouse, learning to raise livestock, or moving across the county to be close to his family, and he, as always, did it “his way.”
Messages may be sent to the family at .
Published in The Gazette Nov. 29, 2011.
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