Edward Elisha Stevens
Edward Elisha Stevens, of Richland Center was born on May 30, 1931 in the town of Sylvan to Benjamin Stevens and Veda (Babb) Stevens. He was the youngest of five siblings and went to school in Richland Center, leaving High School after the second year to help his Grandmother, Gertrude Babb, on the farm. He was drafted in to the United States Army during the Korean War, serving three years from 1951 until 1954. He was then honorably discharged. Edward was united in marriage to Marilyn ‘Lynn’ Marshall on April 6, 1955. They were married 10 years and had six children who survive him:
Dawn Ellen Stevens of Milwaukee
April ‘Penny’ (Carl) Bryce of Alvarado, Texas
Melodie Renee (Byron) Voorheis of Groveland, Florida
Scott Edward Stevens of rural Richland Center
Robin Lynette Stevens (Mike) Funk of Waukesha
grandchildren: Jason Randall (Sandra) Stevens and Jonathan Ray (Michelle) Stevens, both of the Milwaukee area
Spencer Marshall Stevens Funk of Waukesha
his Texas grandchildren are Elaina Renee’ Terrony, T. Scott Bradwell, Crystal Dawn Dean, Mark and Tatum Bryce
his Florida grandchildren are: Melissa and Tiffany West
three great granddaughters of Milwaukee: Micaela Rae, Hailey Elise and Skylar Marie Stevens
two great grandchildren of Texas: JJ and Madison Dean
numerous nieces and nephews.
Edward was preceded in death by an infant son Douglas Elisha, by his parents and his brother Raymond Stevens of California, his sister Martha (Keith) Huffman, sister Beulah (Archie) Rowin and his sister Alvina (Chub) Maly; his nephew Leonard Rowin, niece Geraldine Rowan Knipfer.
Edward was first a farmer. He and his wife farmed in the Town of Sylvan and Lost Hollow, while at the same time he worked at Oscar Mayer in Madison. They then moved to a corporate farm in Wasworth, IL and he next worked at American Motors in Kenosha. Following his divorce in June 1965, he got a job as a tool and die maker in Chicago and began his career in that field. He became a partner and owner, and they moved the company to California and later to Tucson, Arizona, where he sold the business to retire and move back to his childhood home of Richland Center in 1995, only two blocks from where his sister Beulah lived. Edward enjoyed deer and elk hunting out west and enjoyed fishing from his boat on the river. Had he lived, he would have been 81 on May 30, 2012 to be the eldest among his siblings.
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the PRATT MEMORIAL CHAPEL. Burial will be in the Mount Tabor Cemetery at a later date. Military rites provided by the local veterans military memorial honors unit. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 9, from 1:00 PM until the service at 3:00. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.
