Obituary - John Paul Stephens

John Paul Stephens, 85, passed away Saturday, August 3rd, 2024. He had battled cancer for less than 1 year. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, then spread to liver, lungs and bones.

Paul was born Oct. 3 1938, to Charlie and Margie Stephens in Everton Missouri. Paul was one of three children. Lois was the oldest, then Paul and Catherine was the youngest.

Paul attended Everton school through 8th grade. He left school to help on the family farm. They had dairy cow, which needed to be milked twice a day.

When he turned 17, Paul enlisted in the Air Force. After basic training, Paul was stationed at the Radar Base north of Havre.

He met Dorothy Gerky, who he married and had three children. Paul was a jack-of-all-trades. He worked as a farm and ranch hand, a mechanic, and finally an electrician. He was part owner of Tempo Electric for many years, then started Stephens Electric.

In 1993, Paul and Dorothy purchased a small farm in Everton, MO, and moved there to help his parents with the family farm. Paul went to work at the Springfield College as a maintenance person. He later retired from the college and put his energy into farming and cows.

Paul loved square dancing, riding horses, hunting, fishing and mowing on his Bad Boy zero turn. Paul got certified as a first responder in Missouri.

In 2019, Paul and Dorothy sold their farm and moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa. It was there, he spent the last five years of his life.

Paul was preceeded in death by his parents, Charlie and Margie Stephens, and both sisters, Lois and Catherine. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, his son Clay (Ami), two daughters, Jody and Tracy, two grandchildren, Kalynne and Braden (Aelie) and two great grandchildren, Levi and Walker Hammond.