Stephen "Steve" Matthew Person

Stephen “Steve” Matthew Person, 71, of Tipton, died suddenly on Sunday May 3, 2020, while at his home. Funeral services will be determined at a later date and all updated service information will be posted on this website where you are also invited to share online condolences. I lieu of flowers and in Steve’s memory, the family has set up memorial funds for the Bennett American Legion Post 104 and the Tipton VFW. The family asks that all cards and memorials be mailed in c/o Cheryl Person to 1402 Jackson Ave. Tipton, IA 52772. Steve, son of Kenneth Osborne Person and Elizabeth Ann (Kaping) Person was born on Sunday, August 22, 1948 in Oakland, CA. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1967. Steve retired as a First Sergeant after a total of 22 years’ service in the U.S. Army. He was active duty from February 9, 1968 - February 8, 1971 and was in the Army Reserves for three years from 1971 – 1974 and another 16 years after 1982. On August 4, 1984, Steve was united in marriage to Cheryl Beth Kleinhesselink, in Orange City, Iowa. Steve was a pipefitter at the Iowa City Veterans Administration Hospital for 30 years until his retirement in 2011. He was also known for his dedication to mastering his natural woodworking and mechanical talents. During his time as trustee for the First United Methodist Church, in Tipton, he used his woodworking talent to refurbish the church pews and helped with several aspects of the church’s remodeling project. For years, Steve spent many hours in his woodshed building furniture, to include: tables, chairs, cribs and cedar chests for his home, his family members and numerous friends. In his younger years, he used his mechanical talents in the pits of car races while in California and later in life, he used that same talent to restore and fix classic cars and trucks. He was a member of the Bennett American Legion Post 104, the Tipton VFW and the NRA. During his spare time, Steve enjoyed traveling, attending classic car shows, researching ancestry, hunting, camping and spending time tending to his chickens and dogs, but above all else, he enjoyed spending time with his family. Steve is survived by his wife, Cheryl of Tipton, IA; four children, Diane Berwald (Cory) of Iowa City, IA, Julie Young (Tony) of Iowa City, IA, Jill McCormick of Iowa City, IA, and Travis Person of Tipton, IA; and eight grandchildren, Kaitlynn Berwald, Isabelle Berwald, Meghan Ripperton, Alyssa Ripperton, Kailee Stanfield, Brilee Lenoch, Averie McCormick, and Kingston Person. He is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth Osborne and Elizabeth Ann Person; one sister, Susan Barlow of Tucson, AZ and one granddaughter, Haley McCormick;