Robert Stevenson

Robert Joseph Stevenson, 71, of Decorah, lost his courageous battle with lung disease and Parkinson’s (MSA) disease at home Nov. 30, 2017. A family memorial service was held Dec. 3, 2017, at La Rana. A Celebration of Life will be held next summer for Robert. Memorials may be sent to the Parkinson’s Research Center or American Lung Association.

Robert was born in Boston, Mass. Sept. 4, 1946. He grew up in Portage Lake, Maine and Simi Valley, Calif. After high school he enlisted in the US Navy and served in Viet Nam. His professions included police officer, auto mechanic, service manager, USDA inspector and auto inspector. Most recently he was the project manager of the Old Armory Building in Decorah, overseeing the remodeling and reconstruction. His many areas of expertise, including electrical, plumbing, auto repair and carpentry, were utilized countless times by family and friends.

His interests included golf, bowling, model railroads, camping, fishing and watching football. Bob was an excellent marksman and taught his sons gun safety and pheasant hunting in Greene County, Iowa. He was known for his umpiring ability, volunteering countless hours for Boys Little League Baseball and Girls Little League Softball in Jefferson, Iowa. He officiated at the Regional Little League Baseball tournament in Joplin, Mo. and at the World Series Girls’ Softball tournament in Portland, Ore.

Robert and JoAn (Simpson) were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson May 6, 1989. They made their home in Jefferson, Waterloo and Decorah.

Robert is survived by his wife, JoAn; son, Sean Stevenson; son, Nicholas (Courtney) Rowley of Decorah; daughter, Marie Rowley of Des Moines; son, Anthony Rowley of Fayetteville, N.C.; daughter, Lisa Rowley of Minneapolis; son, Dale; daughters, Kelly and Kathy Stevenson of Calif.; grandchildren: Tristan (US Navy), Corban, Nicholas Jr., Evan, Elan, Finlay, Odan and Greta of Decorah and Coralin and Emma Rowley of Beverly Hills, Calif.; granddaughter, Rachel Stevenson and  grandson, Jonathan of Calif.; Avery and Liam McCleeary and Genevieve Flick of Des Moines; mother-in-law, Lorene Conner of Jefferson; sisters-in-law, Jean (Tom) Thompson of Postville, Jill (Richard) Lockey of Janesville, Jeri Griffiths of Des Moines, Judy (Mark) Obermeier of Edwardsville, Ill. and Carla Blackburn of Pueblo, Colo.; brothers-in-law, Joel Simpson of Charleston, Ill. and Jaye Conner of Jefferson; niece, Desiree Stevenson-Morales and nephew, Derek Stevenson of Pueblo, Colo. and many other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen (Brown) and father, Clayton Stevenson and his younger brother, Donald Stevenson.