Stephen White

Stephen J. White, age 69 of Bluffton, IA, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, January 23, 2019, at home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 28, 2019 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Bluffton with Father Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in St. Bridget's Cemetery.    Visitation will be from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 27 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Monday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Stephen Joseph White was born August 21, 1949 in Decorah, Iowa, the son of John and Lucille (Uhlenhake) White.  He grew up in Bluffton with his brother and 5 sisters. He attended North Winneshiek High School. Steve was united in marriage to Cheryl Smith on August 19, 1989.  They were blessed with three daughters: Lisa, Malissa and Carisa.  He farmed with his father and brother on the family farm near Bluffton.  He served in the U.S. Army Airborne Division during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  He then started a construction business putting up buildings, then was an owner/operator of a tractor trailer and drove over the road. He then started working for Yellow Freight where he worked for many years until his retirement.  Steve was a member of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church all of his life. He loved to socialize with people and tell stories.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, his guns, horses, dogs, and his whole family. Steve and his brother Dick raced stock cars in the early 1970’s for a few years. He was preceded in death by his parents. Steve is survived by his wife Cheryl; three daughters: Lisa Catron of Lawler, IA, Malissa Harper of Oklahoma, and Carisa (Kurt) Krauskopf of Decorah, IA; 11 grandchildren:  Wyatt Catron, Shelby Catron, Kolin Krauskopf, Kasey Krauskopf, Keatyn Krauskopf, Carson Krauskopf, Camryn Krauskopf, Damarious Ford, Sabrina Harper, Stephen Harper and Dorisa Harper; five sisters: Florence “Peggy” Combs of Cedar Falls, IA, Evelyn Kingsley of Ridgeway, IA, Eileen Bartlett of Shepherd, MI, Laura White of Bondurant, IA and MaryAnn Flynn of Bluffton; and one brother, Richard (Nancy) White of Bluffton.