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Steve Bixler Story

1932 - 2020

Steve Bixler Story obituary, 1932-2020, Hawkeye, IA

BORN

1932

DIED

2020

Steve Story Obituary

STEVE BIXLER STORY West Union Steve Bixler Story, 87, of Hawkeye, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at his home. Steve was born Dec. 3, 1932, in Monticello, Iowa, the son of Dillon Wells Story and Clarice Isabelle Bixler Story. He grew up on the family farm in Jones County, Iowa, graduating from Olin, Iowa High School in 1950. Steve married Donna Ketchum on June 7, 1953, in the Methodist Church in Olin, Iowa. Four children were born to this marriage: Steven Paul, Karen Diane (Mike Doscher), Janet Kay (David Schlapkohl) and Linda Jeane (Nolan Gunderson). Steve received a B.S. degree from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, in 1954, and his M.A. in school administration from the State University of Iowa in 1958. He was an athletics coach and social studies teacher in Clarence, Iowa, from 1954 to 1958. He taught social studies and was athletics coach at North Fayette High School from 1958 to 1966. He was high school principal and athletics director at North Fayette High School from 1966 through 1994, named Boss of the Year in 1971. Steve developed the student foreign exchange program with England, Germany, and Spain. In October 1990, he met and shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School near Manchester, England. His hobbies included genealogy, history, politics, rural life and community service. His community service included the Fayette County Historical Society; charter president and a founding member of the West Union Jaycees; and president of the West Union Chamber of Commerce. He was the Fayette County Democratic Party chairman and delegate to the 1964 national convention. He was a board member of the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union and Iowa High School Speech Association from 1969 through 1994, selected for the IHSSA Hall of Fame in 1993. Steve was a member of the local H&L (History and Literature) Club. He developed a community concert program to raise money for charitable causes. He worked as a referee and umpire at community schools. He volunteered with the West Union Ambulance service for more than 20 years. Donna and Steve worked with friends to restore pioneer cemeteries. He served as president of the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries. An accomplished organist, Steve wrote more than 25 full-length musical programs featuring local musicians and performed on the historic 1896 Kimball pneumatic organ at the Union Sunday School in Clermont, Iowa. He was an organist at the United Methodist Church in West Union. Steve was Fayette County Union's West Union Citizen of the Year in 1964 and 1994. As a private pilot, he flew his family to Florida for a 1967 to 1968 Christmas vacation. He loved teaching, coaching, students and the people with whom he worked. He loved the United Methodist Church, was baptized, confirmed and married in the Methodist Church in Olin and had been a member of the West Union United Methodist Church since 1958. He enjoyed working on the family's rural properties. Above all, Steve loved his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; a stillborn brother, Warren; brother-in-law, John Keith Smola; nephew, John Paul Smola (Cheryl); great-nephew, John Brennen Seelie; and his beloved son Steven Paul Story, who died in infancy. Surviving Steve are his wife, Donna; his three daughters; sister, Judy Story Tsui (George); nephews, Kent (Megan) and Samuel (Casey) Tsui; sister-in-law, Bonnie Smola; niece, Beth Seelie (Michael); great-nephews, Christopher (Caitlin) and Garrett Seelie; nephew, James Smola (Lisa); great-nieces, Jennifer and Emily Smola; and his grandchildren, Kristina Lynn Doscher Cotterman (Jesse), David Michael Doscher (Lindsey), Theodore James Doscher (Clarissa), Faithe Elizabeth Doscher Keomanivong (Jamie), Laura Jeane Story Schlapkohl Johnson (Shawn), Paul David Story Schlapkohl (Sarah), Jane Donna Story Schlapkohl Vanheuvelen (Tom), Steven Lee Story Hein, Sarah Jeane Story Hein Stolp (Eric), Kaitlin Marika Story Hein (Vince) and Thomas Dillon Story (Victoria). Steve is survived by 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous good friends. Because of COVID-19, a private family graveside service was held in Olin, Iowa, on July 15, 2020. A mobile memorial for the community will be held Sunday, July 26, outside of North Fayette Valley High School in West Union (from 2 to 4:30 p.m.) and a celebration of Steve's life will be held as soon as it is safe to do so.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette on Jul. 17, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
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2 Entries

Renee Frankfurt-Dooley

August 7, 2020

Steve & Donna started the cemetery repairing fever in Jones County. Most are repaired now.
We soon found its a small world. His Son-in-law taught my brother Karate & years later, his Dad, Dillon married my Great Aunt. Our sympathies.

Thank you!

Gladys Rouse Whipple Hurtis

July 17, 2020

He was my favorite teacher of all time. I have three college degrees and had many wonderful teachers but none ever shined a candle to Mr. Story's teaching ability. I believe, in reading his obituary, that Clarence High School might have been his first teaching assignment out of college. I am so grateful that he came to the class of '57's 50th class reunion. I had the opportunity to thank him in person for his influence on me. I told him what I loved hearing from my students. "You were my favorite teacher". (I taught Special Ed from the age of 60 to the age of 69). I thought of Mr. Story a lot over the years. What a great role model he was for probably thousands of students.

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Memorial Events
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Service

2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

mobile memorial outside of North Fayette Valley High School

West Union, IA

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