Steven C. Stockdale

Steven C. Stockdale passed away February 4, 2026 surrounded by his family at his home in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls, with burial immediately following at Union Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the service with a time of fellowship with the family from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Steven was born March 3, 1936 to Elmer Guy Stockdale, Jr. and Gwen Corson Stockdale in the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Steven was raised in the Iowa Falls area graduating from Iowa Falls High School in 1955. During high school, he enjoyed his vocational agriculture classes and was actively involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and served as State FFA Reporter during his senior year in High School.

Steven received his Agricultural Education degree from Iowa State College (ISU) in 1958. Steven then returned to the family farm north of Iowa Falls where he helped Elmer with various enterprises, including fertilizer sales (particularly a brand-new product called anhydrous ammonia), animal feed sales, and the sale of round wire corn cribs to store corn on the farm. As years went by, cribs were replaced by metal grain bins.

Steven met Virginia Anne Benbow, who was a new teacher in the Iowa Falls School system, near the end of 1959. Steven and Virginia found they had similar goals and love for one another and were married March 28, 1961. In June of 1961, Steven and Virginia left Iowa and moved to Bayfield, Colorado, where he got a job teaching social studies. At Thanksgiving that fall, Elmer, Gwen and his sister Barbara visited Colorado and Elmer told Steven that the grain bin business had increased, and he would like him to return to Iowa in the spring. At the end of the school year Steven and Virginia moved back to Iowa.

The Stockdale family business increased through the years and Steven found himself hiring many full-time and part-time employees. During the 1970’s, Stockdales Corporation had as many as 60 full-time or part-time employees, including many boys who were attending high school or Ellsworth Community College. As a result of the farm crisis, Elmer and Steven made the difficult decision to close their business at the end of 1986.

Steven enjoyed the following years farming, first with his father and later on his own. He was particularly pleased that his daughter, Linda Guy and his son-in-law, Mark Guy, moved from their home in Newton to Iowa Falls to take over the family farming operation in 2009. In addition to farming, he loved researching and documenting family ancestry.

Throughout the years, Steven participated in community activities, serving on the Board of Directors of Iowa Falls State Bank, Ellsworth College Foundation, Iowa Falls Area Development Corporation, the School Board of Iowa Falls Community Schools, Iowa Falls Housing, Inc. (Timberview) Board, many Lee Center Church committees, and the Work Activity Center (Franklin County) Board.

He was a kind and gentle man, known for his steady integrity and a heart that welcomed everyone. His kindness left a lasting imprint on all who crossed his path, and his legacy will live on through the many lives he touched.

Steven is survived by his wife Virginia, brother Jerry (Diane) Stockdale, sisters Sue Bruning and Barbara Stockdale; children Dan (Kathy) Stockdale, Linda (Mark) Guy, Cathy (Matt) Diehl, Sandra (Cory) Witty, Tawnya (Nathan) Ganfield, Matt (Brandilyn) Stockdale; grandchildren Trevor and Austin Stockdale, Jaya Guy, Maya (Michael) Van Voorst, Jana Guy, Luke Guy, Jordan Liekweg, Leah (Madison) Gies-Guy, Emalea (Luke) Beavers, Jacob, Omkar and Josiah Diehl, Blake and Adam Witty, Ambrose, Xavier, Lauren and Ashlyn Ganfield, Eli, Reese, Beau and Bruce Stockdale; and great-grandchildren Rebecca, Elizabeth and Caleb Van Voorst, Liam Diehl and Wendell Gies-Guy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Tim Bruning and grandson Brandon Stockdale.

Memorials may be directed to the Ellsworth Community College Foundation in care of the Steven and Virginia Stockdale Endowed Scholarship Fund.