He was born on Feb. 6, 1927 at Fairmont to Zadok C. and Eva (Sweet) Stephenson. John was a farmer and worked at the Ciba Geigy Research Farm near York. He was united in marriage to Violet May Miller on May 25, 1947. He later married Rosemarie (Romans) Gray on Aug. 22, 1953 at Fairmont. Following Rosemarie’s death he married Mary Lee Parish on Aug. 22, 1997 in Kingman, Ariz. John enjoyed the outdoors and loved to go fishing, camping and traveling in his RV.
Survivors include his daughter-in-law, Angie Stephenson of Grand Junction, Colo.; sons-in-law, Steve Gowen of Rapid City, S.D. and Paul Janzen of Henderson; step-son, Stephen Gray of York and eight grandchildren. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wives; children, John Stephenson Jr., Michael Stephenson, Jackie Dickes, Nancy Janzen and Deborah Gowan; brothers and sisters, Leslie Stephenson, Darlene Hafer, Jean Whitemore and Bob Stephenson.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 at the Fairmont Cemetery in Fairmont. No viewing or visitation. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.