- Date Of Birth: December 28, 1950
- Date Of Death: May 19, 2021
- State: Iowa
Steven (Steve) Alan Grace was born in Santa Ana, California on December 28, 1950 to Charles (Chuck) Nelson and Dorothy (Dot) Jane Grace. Four years later his baby sister Debbie June was added to the family. Sadly, they lost their mother Dot to cancer only 13 years later. Chuck would later marry Aultie Pearl, giving Steve and Debbie a big brother, James (Jim) Allen. Chuck enjoyed taking his family camping, boating and fishing, instilling a life-long love of the outdoors in Steve and his siblings. He always had a smile on his face and so did Steve.
After high school Steve and Jim drove trucks for KD Johnson Trucking, owned by Kenneth Johnson. He fell in love with his boss’s daughter Eva Lynn and married her on June 18, 1977. After enjoying a bumpy dune buggy ride, she gave birth a few weeks early to their only son Joshua (Josh) Charles on July 5, 1977. Steve and Eva would divorce after only a few years, but continued to raise Josh together, and remained friends. In 1987 he moved to Adel, Iowa, where he would raise his son with the help of Aunt Dianna (Dink) and Uncle Larry Berry.
Steve worked as a Commercial HVAC Technician, in California and in Iowa. He took pride in helping his friends and family with their heating and cooling systems. Steve joined a group Parents Without Partners where he met Patty Ann Kays, who was also divorced, and had three children: Brian Patrick, Christopher Michael, and Shelley Ann. Steve and Patty married on September 28, 1991 and then moved to Diamondhead Lake, outside of Dexter, Iowa, in 1992.
Steve and Patty both worked very hard to provide for their four children. They went boating and camping, attended family events that always involved a lot of wonderful food and lots of laughs, and they did their best to keep up with all of the kids’ sports and activities. They even added two chocolate labs to the family named Butch and Gunner, who were Steve’s pride and joy, next to the kids and Patty, of course. Steve stood by Patty while she battled cancer and was heartbroken when he lost her on October 22, 1998.
After losing Patty, and with all the kids out of school and moving on to build lives of their own, Steve spent the next several years traveling and visiting family. Steve loved to fish and would spend several years with Josh, Shelley and Chris in Colorado. He was so proud to become a Grandpa and pass on his family’s stories and wisdom. Steve battled many health challenges throughout his life and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, May 18, 2021.
Steve was preceded in death by his Grandparents, Parents and Stepmother, Wife Patty Grace, and Uncle Larry Berry. Steve is survived by Ex-wife Eva Johnson of Searchlight, Nevada, Dixie Wagner of Granger, Iowa, Aunt Dianna Berry of Ankeny, Iowa, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is loved and cherished by his children; Joshua & Emily Grace of Panora, Iowa, Shelley Kays of Altoona, Iowa, Chris & Shana Kays of Grand River, Iowa, and Brian Kays of Des Moines, Iowa. He is missed by his Grandchildren; Shae, Brandi, Stephen, Jude, Zach, Gabby, Cruz, Kyle, Allisa, and Jordan.
The family would like to thank the doctors and amazing nurses at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines. You made Steve’s last few days and hours very comfortable and peaceful for him and his family. You are all angels among us.
