Walter A. Stover, Jr.

Walter A Stover, Jr. One life lived, many lives touched. Walter A. Stover, Jr. was born on August 24, 1943. Raised by his grandparents on a farm near Sheffield, Iowa, he was lovingly nurtured by family and groomed by nature. These formative years had a profound and lasting influence on the compassionate, inquisitive, robust person he became. Walter experienced a heart attack at home on February 14, 2017 and died awaiting bypass surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, WI on Sunday evening, February 19. Upon graduation from Sheffield High School, Walt attended the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in music and mathematics. A percussionist, he served as the Drum Major of the Panther Marching Band for three years and reveled in telling stories of the band's promotional tours and appearances at Soldier Field. A love of music was woven into his soul. Walt's post-graduate education included studies at Drake University (MS in Mathematics), the University of Salzburg, and Marquette University. Walt was a stellar life-long educator, teaching mathematics in Renwick and Carlisle, IA; he held offices in local, state and national teacher associations. In 1986, Walt qualified as one of the finalists under consideration for NASA's Teacher-in-Space Challenger Shuttle project. Upon earning his MS in Educational Administration from Drake University, he served as Principal at Woodward-Granger High School (IA), Assistant Superintendent at St. Francis Schools (WI), Superintendent of Schools at Williams Bay (WI), and as an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at Mt. Mary College in Milwaukee. Walt was elected to two terms on the Board of Directors of Des Moines Area Community College. He was a successful State of Iowa Mediator/Arbitrator, working and thinking "outside the box" to bring resolution to public-sector labor conflicts. After retiring from public education, Walt cultivated a passion for meeting people's needs in property management of Plaza IV, a 136-unit apartment community. A licensed electrician, he brought remarkable problem-solving skills to a multitude of residential-related challenges. Although Walt didn't acknowledge the phrase "above and beyond", he indeed did go above and beyond in caring for others, often providing integration assistance to tenants relocating from other cultural settings. An accomplished photographer, it was not unusual to find Walt behind the lens of his cameras. Part of his living legacy is the plethora of pictures and videos that chronicle his life journey and the experiences of those who walked alongside him. Walt brought great energy to his avocational interests, as well. When the Stovers moved to Milwaukee in 1997, the building of the tall ship Denis Sullivan captured his interest and he enthusiastically devoted nearly every Saturday for three years as a volunteer. He and Elayne enjoyed the maiden voyage of the vessel in Key West in December of 1999. Whether enjoying a sail on the Sullivan or piloting his own craft, The Orion, Walt found amazing peace on the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan. High adventure hiking took Walt to significant hikes of Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Evans, the Cascades, the Rockies, the Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon. In 2006, Walt and his trusted hiking partner, Dr. Jerry Kramer, accomplished a Rim-to-Rim hike down Kootenay Trail on the north rim and up Bright Angel Trail on the south rim, camping five nights on the Canyon floor. In 2014, Walt and Jerry returned to the Bar Ten Ranch on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, accessible only by 80 miles of gravel road from St. George, Utah. The focus of this expedition was a fossil exploration which was accomplished by driving ATV's on remote trails, allowing the study group under the direction of Dr. Steve Austin, to view rarely seen rock formations, including the Parashant National Monument. These trips deepened Walt's faith and conviction in God's hand in creation. A certified US Track and Field Official, Walt had already worked six meets in 2017 and made commitments to 16 spring meets at the time of his death; 2017 would have marked his 22nd year as a Drake Relays official. There are no adequate words to describe Walt's devotion to Scouting. He was the Scoutmaster of Root River Troop 531 (Franklin), an Arrowman, having completed his Ordeal at age 73. He earned the honorable Wood Badge and was humbled to sit on Eagle Scout Board of Review teams. Several weeks ago, he "polar-beared" with his troop at the Polaris District Klondike at Camp Vista, where his troop won the coveted Fred Barthel Spirit Award. Walt was looking forward to upcoming troop adventures with his adult colleagues and "his boys". He was overjoyed that he had been granted the privilege to serve on staff for the National Scout Jamboree in July. Countless were the hours that he spent into the night, preparing something memorable for his Scouts or sending them commendations for a "job well done!". A fourth generation steward of the Stover Century Farm, Walt was a devoted conservationist who believed in restoring to the soil the nutrients that crops drew from the soil. He went to great lengths to protect the 17.5 acres of virgin prairie on the farm. A strong faith was the foundation for the good that Walt endeavored to "pass forward" in this life. With measured intention, he lived in a no-judgment zone and imposed no relationship expectations on others. He was steadfast in reaching out to loved ones and always concluded his conversation with the words, "I love you." Walt was an ordained Ruling Elder, PC (USA). While he served in many capacities over the years crafting his own gifts of ministry, he had a strong preference for working "under the radar", a reverent servant reluctant to receive public acknowledgement. Walt was also a member of the Masonic Guild. If ever there were a man who was "the wind beneath the wings" of others, Walt exemplified that selflessness. He made it possible for those in his circle of care to follow their passions and dreams, doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes, expecting nothing in return. Energetic, wise, resourceful, loyal, sentimental, loving and exceedingly kind was this child of God. Generous of spirit, Walt mentored Elayne's nephew Andrew, providing a home and refuge for him in difficult circumstances. Andrew's son Colten, who came to live with Walt and Elayne when he was a preschooler, was in every way considered by Walt to be his son. Walt and Colten were partners in adventure and grew to be each other's best friend. Surviving to tell his story are his wife of thirty-two years, Elayne Simons Stover and Colten (16) at home; Walt's adult children Suzanne (Dana) Nichols, Cedar Rapids, IA; Nancy (Mike) Thomsen, Broomfield, CO; Mike (Lynn) Stover, Aurora, CO; grandchildren Alec and Natasha Nichols; Kira, Afton and Logan Thomsen; Drew, Allie and Casey Stover; brother Ed Lanigan, sister-in-law Chris (Steve) Hopkins, nephew Adam (Callie) Simons, great-nephew and great-niece Barrett and Berkeley Simons. Preceding Walt in death were his grandparents, Henry and Lena Stover, his mother Wilna Claude Lanigan and father Walter A. Stover, step-mother Valera Stover, parents-in-law Clyde and Elva Simons, and nephew Andrew Cebuhar.