John F. Stenberg

West Des Moines

John F. Stenberg, 73, died August 7, 2013 at the Taylor House of Unity Point Hospice. A private family burial will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Resthaven Cemetery with his nephew, Father Christopher Ballard, officiating. Family will greet friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday for a Memorial Gathering at the Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge, 2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA.

John was born in Brooklyn, New York to John J. and Corinne Kelly Stenberg. John and his family moved to Des Moines when he was 13 and has lived here ever since. He graduated from the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

John had a long and successful career in the mechanical contracting industry. He served as the president of Stroh Corporation and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa before retiring.

John loved life, his family, and his friends to the end. He was married to his loving wife, Cindy, for 31 years, and was involved in the lives of all his four children and eight grandchildren of whom he was so proud.

John was a man of great strength. He fought through his recent health issues with rare courage and determination, all the while maintaining his trademark sense of humor. We will all remember him as the man who could light up a room with his big personality and the ease with which he made friends everywhere he went.

John is survived by his wife, Cindy (Sellers); son, John (Stefanie) Stenberg; daughters, Wendy Stenberg, Susan (Jason) Hughes, and Kiley Stenberg; grandchildren, Kaylee, Luke, Nate and Cameryn Stenberg, Jared and Jacob Chmelka, and David and Blair Hughes; sister, Pamela Ballard; his many beloved nieces, nephews, and in-laws; and his loyal dog, Rudy. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa or the Taylor House of Unity Point Hospice.