Steven A. Honken

MASON CITY | Steven Andrew Honken, 56, of Mason City, IA, died Friday, July 10, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa. 

Steve was born on April 13, 1959, in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of Donald and Marilyn (Luther) Honken. Steve spent his early childhood in the Chicago area, followed by years living in Puerto Rico and Mexico, where he picked up Spanish as a second language. As a teen, his family moved to Northeast Iowa and he graduated from Charles City High School in 1978. He later joined the army and was stationed in Germany. After leaving the military, he settled in the Mason City area. 

Steve was a big gardener, like his dad, and he had several large vegetable gardens around town. Like any true gardener, he spent the winter poring over seed catalogues and was the first out to rototill his plots and those of many others. He was always generous in sharing his bounty, whether it be the first spring onions, summer sweet corn or squash in the fall. 

Steve loved nature and animals. He was a member of the Lime Creek Nature Center and liked joining them for nature workshops and trips to watch the bald eagles. There was never a cat or dog that Steve didn't like. He fed and took in many a stray. There was a special place in his heart for Benny, a quirky Siamese cat he got from his grandpa's farm.

Steve loved the outdoors. He liked to hunt pheasant and fish on the Cedar and Shell Rock Rivers. He always looked forward to his camping trips to Big Sky Country in Montana to visit his cousin Mark. Steve was also an avid canoer, and for 28 years never missed the annual Cedar River Canoe Float. He could be spotted miles away, as Steve was the only boatsman who paddled standing up and had a large goose decoy in tow. 

Steve was a simple, kind and gentle soul. He was generous to a fault and will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.

Steve is survived by his sisters Susan (Mark) Hohenfield of Mason City; Karen (Pat) Halter of Des Moines; and Kathy (Doug) Tran of Edina, Minnesota; four nephews and nieces, Brian, Zach, Olivia and Natalie.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother and grandparents.

A celebration of Steve's life and tree planting ceremony will be held at a later time this summer. Memorials may be directed to the Lime Creek Nature Center in memory of Steve.  Online condolences are welcome at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.