Max Stephenson

Max Lawrence Stephenson, 86, lifelong resident of Adair and Cass county, passed away on May 13, 2010, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Max was born on March 7, 1924, in Adair County, on the Stephenson family farm. He was born to Avery and Erma (Marsh) Stephenson. Max attended country school in Adair County through the eighth grade. He then attended Anita High School through his sophomore year. Max then took over the Stephenson family farm after his father's back injury.

On March 16, 1947, he was united in marriage with Martha (Crawford) Stephenson at the Anita Congregational Church. They started their life together on a rented farm north of Adair for about a year. They then moved southeast of Anita to the Stephenson family farm. Out of this union two children were born. Norma (Stephenson) Okada on October 10, 1951, and Lynn D. Stephenson on July 21, 1953.


Max was an avid farmer. Farming and family were his pride and joy. When Max wasn't farming, he was auction bound always looking for a sweet deal. Some other hobbies Max enjoyed were golfing with the Wobblies (where he obtained a hole-in-one), playing cards with the Sunset Club and collecting miniature John Deere tractors. With his coffee in hand, his daily jokes and his prank trinkets, he was sure to leave you smiling. He loved snowmobiling and heading south to Yuma, AZ as a snowbird. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge #380 and the Order of Eastern Star of Anita, IA. You could always hear Max talking about his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, for they were the apple of his eye.

Max is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha Stephenson; daughter, Norma L. (Mitch) Okada of Wheaton, IL; son, Lynn (Becky) Stephenson of Anita, IA; grandchildren, Chris Stephenson of Anita, IA, Corey (Tammy) Stephenson of Anita, IA, Andrea (Eric) Goins of Carroll, IA, Kelby Okada of Wheaton, IL; great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Kourtnie, Shelby and Seth Stephenson all of Anita, IA; brother, Rex (Marilyn) Stephenson of Adair, IA; and sisters, Marie (Don) Lentz of Greenfield, IA and Betty (Griffith) Carson of Grand Junction, IA.

Preceding Max in death were his parents, Avery and Erma Stephenson; half-brothers, Earl (Lydia) Stephenson, Ross (Leora) Stephenson and Cecil (Anita) Stephenson; and a half-sister in infancy.

Max will be deeply missed by many friends and family, but never forgotten!

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 17, 2010, at Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa. Visitation with family will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 16, 2010, at Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Anita, Iowa.