Loren Keith Stewart

Loren Keith Stewart, the son of Lester and Alice Schaull Stewart, was born December 16, 1920, at his parents home near Blairstown, Iowa and died April 7, 2009, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 3 months, and 21 days.
Loren was baptized at the Methodist Church in Blairstown. He attended rural schools near Blairstown, and graduated from the Blairstown Consolidated High School with the Class of 1938. Loren farmed with his father for a short time, then on September 19, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. During his tour of duty he served as an aerial engineer on B-12 aircrafts. He was a navigator, gunner, and also served as a radio operator. He saw action on all fronts, the European, Asiatic, and African theaters, then completed his tour in Alaska. He was honorably discharged on July 11, 1945, and returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he was employed at the Fruehauf factory.
On February 19, 1949, he was united in marriage to Mary Nadine Hopkins at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. They moved to Blairstown to operate his grandmothers farm. They purchased more land and operated a crop and livestock farm. They farmed until they retired in 1983. They sold the farm and moved into Blairstown. In 2000 they moved to Audubon, Iowa to be near their daughter and her family.
Loren was a member of the American Legion in Blairstown. He was very family oriented, enjoyed and worried about his family. Loren enjoyed building and fixing things. He liked to play cards, play games, and traveling. He was also a jokester and enjoyed making wise cracks.
Preceding him in death were; his grandson Jarrod Paulsen; his parents; his brothers: Donald Stewart and Merle Stewart; his sisters-in-law: Winnifred Stewart and Gloria Klug and his nephew Randy Klug.
Survivors include his wife Mary Stewart of Audubon, IA; his daughter Donna and husband Paul Paulsen of Audubon; his grandchildren: Jessica and husband Ryan Fincel of Atlantic, IA; Jackie and husband Nick Cockrum of West Des Moines, IA; and Josh Paulsen of Iowa City, IA; his great-grandchildren: Heather Fincel of Atlantic; MacKenzi Cockrum and Dakota Cockrum, both of West Des Moines; and his brother Gerald Stewart of Belle Plaine, IA; his sister Evelyn and husband Charles Kubichek of Blairstown; his sister-in-law Ann Stewart of Alabama; his brother-in-law Jim and wife Lorrie Hopkins of Cedar Rapids, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Friday, April 10 from 10:00 A.M. until time of the service at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be conducted by Pastor Christopher Martin on Friday, April 10, 2009, at 11:00 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, IA.