Kenneth Eugene Stevens

Kenneth Eugene Stevens, 81, of Glidden, Iowa, went to the loving arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Swan Place, Carroll, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Peace Lutheran Church in Glidden with Pastor Alan Miller and Pastor Robert Zellmer of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Farnhamville officiating. Organist will be his son-in-law, John Van Horn. Congregational hymns will be Onward Christian Soldiers and Jesus is Tenderly Calling. Pallbearers will be: Lyle Coon, Arlen Hirsch, Pastor Robert Zellmer, Sarah Stevens and Maria Van Horn. Honorary Pallbearers are Jerry Ball, Herman Seil and Ken’s grandchildren. Burial will be in the Scranton Township Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Merle Hay Post of the American Legion of Glidden. A luncheon will be held for all friends and family at Peace Lutheran following graveside service. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday. The casket will be moved to Peace Lutheran Church at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Kenneth Eugene Stevens was born on January 4, 1936 at his family’s home near the coal mines near Scranton, Iowa. He grew up in Scranton and graduated from Scranton Consolidated High School in 1955. Ken, as he was known to most, joined the United States Army in 1958 and served a total of six years. He was stationed in Italy and the United States during his service. For 25 years, he was on the Scranton Fire Department and he was in the first group of firemen to start the Scranton Rescue Unit. Ken was married to Verneva Blanchard on November 18, 1962 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. They made their home in Grand Junction for two years, moved to Scranton until 1979, Lohrville for 28 years and in 2008 moved to Glidden to a new handicap-accessible house where they both lived until her passing. While in Lohrville, Ken owned & operated Stevens Electric and Vee taught in the Lohrville & Southern Cal Schools. Before retirement in 2001, he also worked for Menninga Electric in Carroll for a few years. Before starting his own electrical business, he also worked on a bridge crew (favorite job), as a gravel truck driver, worked for a manufacturer of washing machines in Jefferson and helped his father with his businesses of shearing sheep and plumbing. Until a year ago, he had a CDL license and helped a friend driving semi during harvest for a few years. Ken and Vee were members at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Farnhamville where Ken served as Trustee. He was a 50 year member of the American Legion and served as Chaplain of Merle Hay Post 386. Ken was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (earning 2nd Chair while he was stationed in Italy) and he served as a Cub Scout Packmaster. Ken was very proud of those who received the highest Scouting ranks. All three of his sons, his son-in-law, grandson Daniel and grandson David obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. A granddaughter, Maria, earned her Stars and Stripes Award from the American Heritage Girls. At grandson Daniel’s Navy Commissioning, he was the honored recipient of Daniel’s first salute and was very proud of the honor. Until going to Swan Place in January, 2017, he carried a newspaper article about the Commissioning in his pocket. Ken enjoyed gardening, making horseradish, playing cards, woodworking and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Most people who knew him knew of his gift of giving horseradish to those he knew would enjoy it. While growing up, the family had Boston Terrier dogs. Corky and Boots were the Bostons in Scranton. In Lohrville, the family raised Boston Terrier pups (Brindy and Jenny were some). Ken is survived by daughter Cindi Van Horn (John) of Glidden; three sons: Michael Stevens (Teresa) of Dallas, TX, Todd Stevens (Monica) of Des Moines, and Brian Stevens (Michelle) of Cedar Rapids; 15 grandchildren: Elizabeth, Daniel, Sarah, Josh, Jacob, Maria, Zach, David, Nathan, Rebecca, Rachael, Justin, Esther, Jason and Nathaniel; a sister Joyce Frazier (Larry) of Scranton; a brother Denny Stevens (Leigh) of Newtown, CT; a brother-in-law Derwyn Blanchard (Betty) of California; a sister-in-law Dorothy Blanchard of Coon Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. Ken was preceded in death by his father in 1981, his mother in 2014 at 96, his wife, Vee in 2011, a daughter-in-law, Lisa Stevens in 2009 and a granddaughter, Katie Van Horn in 2003.