James Stevenson

James Bridge Stevenson, age 93, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away on Oct. 20, 2022, at his home in Scottsdale surrounded by family.

James, the son of Frank and Irene (Bridge) Stevenson, was born May 14, 1929 in Goldfield, Iowa. He graduated from Goldfield High School in 1947 and was quick to say that he graduated in the top 17 of his class, although there were only 17 in his class. He attended Iowa State College majoring in Animal Husbandry now called Animal Science. In 1950, between his junior and senior year, he married his high school sweetheart, Eileen Bernard of Eagle Grove, then graduated the next year while Eileen was teaching grade school in Ogden, Iowa. They then made their home on the family farm a mile north of Goldfield where they lived for 30 years until building a home in town.

From this union six sons were born. Although family, farming and livestock production occupied the majority of his time, he was active in other areas including serving as a Boy Scout leader, PTA, Sunday School teacher and United Presbyterian Church Elder, (of which he was very proud). In addition to farming, his business activities included professional farm management and also actively participated in livestock organizations where he served as president of the Iowa Beef Producers Association, a director in the National Livestock and Meat Board, and as a director of the American National Cattlemen’s Association.

Jim retired from farming in 1994 but had retained an active interest in the farming operation which sons David and Mark operated. Jim and Eileen had been wintering in Scottsdale, Arizona since the late 1970s, returning to the farm each spring. In 2010, Jim and Eileen moved to Arizona full-time, where he spent everyday as if it were his last.

Hobbies such as foreign travel and art appreciation programs as well as many winter months spent in Arizona that has provided new knowledge, new friends and a continued interest in life’s activities. In 2016, he wrote his autobiography, “What A Life – The Memories I Cherish,” which became an instant best-seller… amongst his 47 descendants.

He leaves behind his six sons, Don Bridge and wife Debra, David James and wife Rhonda, Mark Frank, John Lewis and wife Caliope, Brian Roy and wife Marile and Kurt Alan along with 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, along with a multitude of friends, even though some were Democrats, Jim would chuckle.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Eileen of 66 years, parents Frank and Irene, sister Allis W. Curran and daughter-in-law Denise (Mark) Stevenson.