Wayne Stevens was born on October 18, 1916, to Ensley Howard and Blanda Manson Stevens. He had two older siblings, Lillian and Donovan. He stood 6'4" in his prime, had the singing voice of a crooner, and was known all his life as a snappy dresser. He was an entrepreneur, delighted children by reciting nursery rhymes wrong, could swear like a sailor, made excellent fake mashed potatoes, grilled steak like a pro, and liked to dance. He passed away on December 10, 2010 at the age of 94. He'd have been the first to say he had a good run.
Stevens attended Harvard School and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1933. He earned a degree in animal husbandry from Iowa State College in 1937, where he met Nelia Elizabeth Woodsmall after sneaking into the transfer student mixer she was attending at the student union. He was kicked out of the mixer twice and when he was finally kicked out a third and final time, Nelia left with him. They were married in 1938 until Nelia's death in 2004, more than 65 years later.
Early in their marriage they lived in Sioux City, Iowa, where Wayne earned $22.50 per week working for Swift Meat Packing. They returned to the Stevens farm in 1941 and farmed with Wayne's father, Ensley Howard. They adopted their son, Rawson, in 1946. In 1949, Wayne and his brother, Donovan, started the Stevens Bros. Construction Company, and Wayne eventually had an interest in the Nishna Valley Lumber Company, Nishna Valley Sale Barn and the Nishna Valley Truck Stop and Café as well.
Wayne and Nelia had a flourishing social circle. Wayne enjoyed attending Nebraska football games with friends, driving the 1923 Model T Ford fire truck in local parades, snow skiing, and spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was a member of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1122, Shenandoah Kiwanis Club and the Cottonwood Farms Hunting Club.
After Nelia's death, Wayne married Frances Miller Beckett, his high school sweetheart. Together they enjoyed spending time with their extended families. Frances' three daughters, Carolyn Beckett, Janet Witt, and Judy Bargmann and their families welcomed Wayne and shared their musical talent with him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his wife, Nelia. Survivors include Frances Stevens; Rawson and Ann Stevens; Ericka Stevens and Benjamin Jones; George Stevens; Carolyn Beckett; Janet Witt; Judy Bargmann; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews; extended family members and a whole host of friends and acquaintances.
Stevens attended Harvard School and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1933. He earned a degree in animal husbandry from Iowa State College in 1937, where he met Nelia Elizabeth Woodsmall after sneaking into the transfer student mixer she was attending at the student union. He was kicked out of the mixer twice and when he was finally kicked out a third and final time, Nelia left with him. They were married in 1938 until Nelia's death in 2004, more than 65 years later.
Early in their marriage they lived in Sioux City, Iowa, where Wayne earned $22.50 per week working for Swift Meat Packing. They returned to the Stevens farm in 1941 and farmed with Wayne's father, Ensley Howard. They adopted their son, Rawson, in 1946. In 1949, Wayne and his brother, Donovan, started the Stevens Bros. Construction Company, and Wayne eventually had an interest in the Nishna Valley Lumber Company, Nishna Valley Sale Barn and the Nishna Valley Truck Stop and Café as well.
Wayne and Nelia had a flourishing social circle. Wayne enjoyed attending Nebraska football games with friends, driving the 1923 Model T Ford fire truck in local parades, snow skiing, and spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was a member of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1122, Shenandoah Kiwanis Club and the Cottonwood Farms Hunting Club.
After Nelia's death, Wayne married Frances Miller Beckett, his high school sweetheart. Together they enjoyed spending time with their extended families. Frances' three daughters, Carolyn Beckett, Janet Witt, and Judy Bargmann and their families welcomed Wayne and shared their musical talent with him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his wife, Nelia. Survivors include Frances Stevens; Rawson and Ann Stevens; Ericka Stevens and Benjamin Jones; George Stevens; Carolyn Beckett; Janet Witt; Judy Bargmann; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews; extended family members and a whole host of friends and acquaintances.
Wayne Stevens was born on October 18, 1916, to Ensley Howard and Blanda Manson Stevens. He had two older siblings, Lillian and Donovan. He stood 6'4" in his prime, had the singing voice of a crooner, and was known all his life as a snappy dresser. He was an entrepreneur, delighted children by reciting nursery rhymes wrong, could swear like a sailor, made excellent fake mashed potatoes, grilled steak like a pro, and liked to dance. He passed away on December 10, 2010 at the age of 94. He'd have been the first to say he had a good run.
Stevens attended Harvard School and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1933. He earned a degree in animal husbandry from Iowa State College in 1937, where he met Nelia Elizabeth Woodsmall after sneaking into the transfer student mixer she was attending at the student union. He was kicked out of the mixer twice and when he was finally kicked out a third and final time, Nelia left with him. They were married in 1938 until Nelia's death in 2004, more than 65 years later.
Early in their marriage they lived in Sioux City, Iowa, where Wayne earned $22.50 per week working for Swift Meat Packing. They returned to the Stevens farm in 1941 and farmed with Wayne's father, Ensley Howard. They adopted their son, Rawson, in 1946. In 1949, Wayne and his brother, Donovan, started the Stevens Bros. Construction Company, and Wayne eventually had an interest in the Nishna Valley Lumber Company, Nishna Valley Sale Barn and the Nishna Valley Truck Stop and Café as well.
Wayne and Nelia had a flourishing social circle. Wayne enjoyed attending Nebraska football games with friends, driving the 1923 Model T Ford fire truck in local parades, snow skiing, and spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was a member of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1122, Shenandoah Kiwanis Club and the Cottonwood Farms Hunting Club.
After Nelia's death, Wayne married Frances Miller Beckett, his high school sweetheart. Together they enjoyed spending time with their extended families. Frances' three daughters, Carolyn Beckett, Janet Witt, and Judy Bargmann and their families welcomed Wayne and shared their musical talent with him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his wife, Nelia. Survivors include Frances Stevens; Rawson and Ann Stevens; Ericka Stevens and Benjamin Jones; George Stevens; Carolyn Beckett; Janet Witt; Judy Bargmann; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews; extended family members and a whole host of friends and acquaintances.
Stevens attended Harvard School and graduated from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1933. He earned a degree in animal husbandry from Iowa State College in 1937, where he met Nelia Elizabeth Woodsmall after sneaking into the transfer student mixer she was attending at the student union. He was kicked out of the mixer twice and when he was finally kicked out a third and final time, Nelia left with him. They were married in 1938 until Nelia's death in 2004, more than 65 years later.
Early in their marriage they lived in Sioux City, Iowa, where Wayne earned $22.50 per week working for Swift Meat Packing. They returned to the Stevens farm in 1941 and farmed with Wayne's father, Ensley Howard. They adopted their son, Rawson, in 1946. In 1949, Wayne and his brother, Donovan, started the Stevens Bros. Construction Company, and Wayne eventually had an interest in the Nishna Valley Lumber Company, Nishna Valley Sale Barn and the Nishna Valley Truck Stop and Café as well.
Wayne and Nelia had a flourishing social circle. Wayne enjoyed attending Nebraska football games with friends, driving the 1923 Model T Ford fire truck in local parades, snow skiing, and spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was a member of the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1122, Shenandoah Kiwanis Club and the Cottonwood Farms Hunting Club.
After Nelia's death, Wayne married Frances Miller Beckett, his high school sweetheart. Together they enjoyed spending time with their extended families. Frances' three daughters, Carolyn Beckett, Janet Witt, and Judy Bargmann and their families welcomed Wayne and shared their musical talent with him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his wife, Nelia. Survivors include Frances Stevens; Rawson and Ann Stevens; Ericka Stevens and Benjamin Jones; George Stevens; Carolyn Beckett; Janet Witt; Judy Bargmann; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews; extended family members and a whole host of friends and acquaintances.
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