Ivan Stewart, 93

Frank Ivan Stewart was born August 17,1929 in Atkinson toFrank and Iva Stewart. After losing his mom at the age of 4 1/2, he and younger sister, Phyllis, lived with their grandparents, Emanuel and Minnie Keefer. He often told his family that he thought his grandma was a saint. He thought the world of her. He graduated from Rock County High School in 1948.

Ivan served active duty in the US Marine Corps from 1951-1953, followed by six years of inactive duty before being honorably discharged in 1959. After his active duty, Ivan worked for ranchers in Rock and Loup Counties. While working at the Buell ranch near Rose, a pretty, young school teacher, Lois Davis, caught his eye and captured his heart. Ivan and Lois were married on May 25, 1958. They were blessed with three children, Jerilyn, Jim and Judy or Jude as she was always called by her dad. The family moved to the Fairway Ranch, south of Valentine, where Ivan worked from 1965-1971. The memories made there with their Dad while tending cattle, working in the hayfield and riding horses as he hummed, in his own unique way, “The Yellow Rose of Texas” will always be cherished.

In November 1971, the family moved in to Valentine. Ivan worked at the Neujahr Feed Lot and the Dam Ranch, before being employed by the Cherry County Road Department for thirty-one years.

After retiring, Ivan remained active by walking and riding his bike through the city park and all over town. After falling more times than we knew about or could count, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Amazingly, he never broke any bones in any of the falls he took! He was a man of steel! He continued to care for and keep his lawn and flowers beautifully maintained for as long as he possibly could.

Ivan passed to his eternal home at the Rock County hospital on September 18, 2022 at the age of 93.

Those preceding him in death and resurrection are his parents, sister Phyllis Schroeder, an infant sister, brother Lyle Stewart, Parent- in-laws Free and Gladys Davis.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Lois of Valentine, daughter Jerilyn (Dan) Colburn of Valentine, son Jim (Kathy) Stewart of Lincoln, daughter Judy (Roger) Aspen of Hastings, Grandchildren Danielle (Kurt) Arganbright, Kase and Kade, Jade (Ryan) Swihart, River and Bear, Jay (Mollie) Stewart, Brynn Stewart (fiancé Jacob Kramer), Blake Aspen, Brooke Aspen, Brother Zeke Stewart of Fullerton and a host of other family and friends.

Memorials may be given to Leo Brinda American Legion Post 90, Valentine.

Services were held Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Methodist Church in Valentine. Inurnment will be at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery, Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.

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