Sterling "Sam" Paul Shreve was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Neal C. and Esther (Christiansen) Shreve on February 26, 1932. He passed away at the Israel Hospice House in Ames, Iowa on June 9, 2021, with his loving family near his side.
At age 16, while still in high school, Sam lied about his age in order to join the Air National Guard. After graduating in January 1951, he was activated on April 1, 1951 for the Korean War in the U.S.A.F. where he was a Senior Weapons Mechanic. He was honorably discharged on December 14, 1952.
Sam was united in marriage to Ruth Ilene Lauritsen on February 13, 1957. Sam and Ruth had two children, Kelly Brodie and Karen Thiel. Sam had a son, Paul Shreve, from a previous marriage.
In 1956 Sam started working for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in Sioux City. He was a surveyor for the building of dams and straightening of creek channels on the Little Sioux Flood Prevention Project. In 1971 he transferred to Ames with the SCS, which later became the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as a soil map cartographer. He retired from the NRCS in 1987.
Sam enjoyed spending time with his family and playing poker, cribbage, and pinochle with his many friends. He was known for his quick wit and making people laugh. He was a longtime member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Ames.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, and his daughters, Kelly Brodie and Karen (Denny) Thiel; four grandchildren, Michael Ryan Brodie (Katy Beerhohm-Young), Emily (Nic Carnes) Brodie, Amber (Tim) Jacklin, Justin (Ashley) Redding; and ten great-grandchildren,
Kaitlyn Carnes, Christopher Carnes, Sophia Carnes, Isabelle Carnes, Nolan Carnes, Brodie Carnes, Lily Jacklin, Owen Jacklin, Jaxson Redding and Holden Redding. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Betty (Gordon) Williams; brother-in-law, Lance Lauritsen; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sue (Gary) Baker; and many dear friends and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Viggo and Florence Lauritsen; siblings and their spouses, Pauline (Dale) Harter, Neal Shreve Jr., Mark (Arlene) Shreve; and son-in-law Mike Brodie.
The family would like to thank Mary Greeley Hospice Services for their care and comfort.
He would like everyone to love each other, keep the faith, and believe in the Lord above.
Private graveside services will be held at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery in Adel, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.
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