Kenneth Stevens Obituary in Ankeny at Memorial Services of Iowa

Obituary For Kenneth Stevens

The embodiment of a life lived to the fullest, Kenneth Stevens was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and cherished friend to so many. Capable of making acquaintances under any and every circumstance, Kenny’s legacy stretches far and wide and is filled with so many countless memories. On June 13, 1930, Kenny began life in the small rural town of Delmar, Iowa to his parents Leo and Josephine Stevens and enjoyed an upbringing with his two sisters Mary (Dave) and Katie (Howard) and four brothers Gerald (Darlene), Paul (Helen), Earl (LaVonne) and Richard (Sue).

At the age of 19, Kenny enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Sacramento where, on a shore leave blind date, he met the love of his life, Velma (Thompson) Stevens. Kenny and Velma enjoyed 71 years of marriage together and will forever be remembered as the couple everyone wanted to spend time with.

After serving for four years in active duty during the Korean war, Kenny and Velma moved back to Delmar where they lived for several years enjoying the proximity to the tight knit Stevens family. In 1955 they moved to Seattle, Washington, where Kenny completed an apprenticeship with Boeing Aircraft and their family grew to 4 with the addition of daughter, Susan and son, David. After the birth of their two children, Kenny and Velma moved to Sacramento temporarily. Missing his family and farming community in which he was raised, Kenny and Velma moved back to Iowa where Kenny worked for fifteen years at International Harvester. In 1967, they bought their first farm in Bennett, Iowa and lived there for 10 years. Many remember the balance of hard work and “social enrichment” that the Stevens enjoyed; after a long day’s work, social hours often included a cold, adult beverage shared with friends.

In 1977 Kenny, Velma, Susan, and David moved to Centerville, Iowa where they bought the Appanoose County farm. The buildings needed a good bit of work, but it quickly became the home that they would enjoy living in until 2015 when they moved to Ankeny to be closer to family. While in Centerville, daughter, Susan, and her family would enjoy visiting the farm and would make many memories helping feed the cattle and driving farm equipment as needed. To them, visiting the farm was a way to enjoy the countryside and share in Kenny’s love of watching things grow. Granddaughters, Leah (Aaron) and Geena, will be forever grateful for all the memories made while riding the 4-wheeler with grandpa, bottle feeding calves, and jumping around on top of the hay bales whenever the opportunity would present itself.

Though Kenny’s final home was in Ankeny, Iowa, he and Velma maintained ties with close friends by visiting friends and family around the state as often as his dedicated and loving daughter could make the drive. They cherished their friends and family and always made time for family weddings, graduations, reunions and the many events granddaughters Leah and Geena were involved in. Kenny worked hard, loved his family and always found a way to get what he wanted out of life. He was an independent, steadfast, and loving head of the family and he will be greatly missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.

He is preceded in death by his parents Leo and Josephine Stevens; by his siblings Gerald (Darlene) Stevens, Paul (Helen) Stevens, Earl (LaVonne) Stevens, Katie (Howard) Mattson; son-in-law, Mark Schmidt. He is succeeded by his loving wife, Velma Stevens; daughter, Susan (Dan) Harrington; granddaughters Leah (Aaron) Grant and Geena Schmidt; siblings Richard (Sue) Stevens and Mary Robbins; and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church (405 Delmar Avenue, Delmar, Iowa 52037).

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