Steven James Vance, age 66, passed away on July 8, 2024 in Ottumwa, IA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 10 AM at Cornerstone Church in Ames, IA with a visitation and luncheon to follow.

Steve was born in Omaha, Nebraska on December 30, 1957 to James and Dorothy Vance. Steve grew up in the Sheldahl area and attended North Polk Schools. Steve was intelligent, athletic and hardworking. He grew up in a loving, boisterous, joyful, and Christ-centered home. The Vance family was deeply involved in helping to start Slater Baptist Church, where Steve was a charter member.

In the spring of 1978, Steve was set up on a date with Jean Howell by Art and Bett Drake, a local farmer and fellow church member. Steve and Jean were married later that year on December 30, 1978 at Slater Baptist Church. They were an inseparable couple throughout their life together. Steve worked 44 years at UPS. In 1987, Steve and Jean purchased a home in Sheldahl, IA where they would raise their four children, Mark, Megan, Luke, and Joshua.

Throughout his life, Steve loved endurance sports and outdoor adventures. He ran multiple marathons, hiked several of the “14ers” in Colorado, and rode his bike regularly on the High Trestle trail. He loved reading and music. Steve enjoyed traveling – whether family road trips to Florida or international travel to Bangladesh, China, and South Africa.

Steve’s greatest love was his family. He was a devoted son and after his father Jim’s passing in 2019, Steve served as a daily encouragement to his mother Dorothy. Throughout every stage of life, Steve was a tremendously devoted father to Mark, Megan, Luke and Josh. In recent years, Steve was a wonderful grandfather; he LOVED his grandkids, especially his grandbabies, and spent countless hours reading, playing, and babysitting.

Most of all, Steve Vance was a servant of Jesus Christ and devoted his life to serving others. Steve and Jean served as foster parents to more than a dozen children, opening their home and their hearts. For many years, Steve served as a youth group leader at Slater Baptist Church, leading regular weekly youth activities and taking the youth group on numerous missions trips. Steve and Jean served international students through the ministry of Cornerstone Church in Ames, making deep friendships that led to international travel, attending weddings, and many more adventures. In 2022, Steve and Jean traveled to South Africa to serve orphans alongside Brian and Lois Niehoff, two former Slater Baptist Youth Group students, at the Restoring Hope Village. In his final days, Steve served by doing weekly food pick-ups for the Food Pantry in Ames in connection with Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA). Attempting to list the many other ways Steve devoted his life to serving others is simply impossible.

In Mark 10:43-45, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Steve made a choice in life to serve others because he was the recipient of the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His greatest desire was that in small acts of love, people would see the love of Christ through his life.

Steve is survived by his wife Jean, son and daughter-in-law Mark and Crystal Vance, daughter and son-in-law Megan and Corwin Colebrooke, son Luke Vance, son and daughter-in-law Joshua and Mikayla Vance, beloved grandchildren; Owen, Avery, and Reid Vance; Kael and Adalynn Colebrooke; and James Vance. He is also survived by his mother, Dorothy Vance; his siblings, Debra (Keith) Vance Noelk, Cindy (Larry) Nilius, Brian (Lana) Vance, his brother-in-law Jerry Howell and sister-in-law Jan Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews. Steve is preceded in death by his father James Vance.
 
His memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Cornerstone Church in Ames. For any wishing to offer their condolences to his family, a visitation and luncheon will be held immediately following the memorial service. Steve lived a vibrant life so you are welcome to wear vibrant, joyful colors to his memorial service. For any unable to attend in person, they can watch his memorial service online at www.cornerstonelife.com/funeral. Memorials can be made out to Cornerstone Church.