Tom Stephenson, 77, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2020, at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. He fought Lewy-Body Parkinson Disease with dementia for many years. Tom went to the hospital with pneumonia and became sicker, later testing positive for COVID-19. A private family service will be held August 15, 2020 at Norwalk Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be at a later date.
Tom is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pat; daughter, Michelle (Joe) Peterson; son, Michael (Dana) Stephenson; grandchildren who he loved and adored, Michael Jr. and Danika of Platte City, MO; stepmother, Joyce Severson; siblings, Terry (Sue) Stephenson, Irene Johnson, Susan (Mark) Prouty, and Larry (Shallene) Stephenson all of Detroit Lakes, MN and Tim (Debbie) Sanden of Fargo, ND; nieces and nephews; many close family of Pat’s, some calling him “uncle”; close friends from high school; and coworkers in Iowa and Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his father, Eddy Stephenson and mother, Joyce Sanden.
Tom joined the Air Force in 1963. After getting married, he attended and graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN as a mechanical draftsman working for W.S. Nott and Buehler Corporation. He then bought a Napa Auto Parts store in northern MN. Afterwards, he moved to Pat’s family farm and worked as a mechanical draftsman and salesman for 3E and also worked at Amoco Motor Club. When laid off, he had his own business of Central Drafting and Design. He then went to DMACC for CDL training and drove a long haul for several Iowa companies.
Tom grew up doing bodywork with his dad and built several of his friends’ race and personal cars. Family and friends, old vehicles, and joking around were his favorite pastimes. Many have mentioned his smile and laugh.
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