John Brooks Stevens
MARQUETTE, MI – John Brooks Stevens, 82, of Marquette, Michigan, died Sunday, March 28, 2021, peacefully at home, where he had been a resident since 1978.
He was born January 23, 1939, in Warren, Ohio, to Lloyd Brooks Stevens and Mary Elizabeth Chinnock Stevens and was raised in West Farmington, Trumbull County, Ohio.
John graduated from the Farmington Public School in 1957 and attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio; Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan; Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas; and Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California where he received his Bachelor’s in Management. He later received a Master’s in Business Administration from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama and a Master’s in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy serving from 1957-1959 aboard the USS Wasp, CVS-18 and a veteran of the United States Air Force serving from 1961, until his retirement at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in 1987. During his Air Force service he was assigned to Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas; K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan; Carswell Air Force Base, Texas; Mather Air Force Base, California; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Hahn Air Base, Germany; back to K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base; and Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland. He was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He was a graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officers School, the Air Force Command and Staff College, the Air War College, and the National Security Management Course of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
John was a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was a member of Western Reserve Lodge, 507, Grand Lodge of Ohio; Marquette Lodge, 101, Grand Lodge of Michigan; and Hunsruck Lodge, 839, of the American Canadian Grand Lodge under the United Grand Lodges of Germany. He served as the Worshipful Master of Hunsruck Lodge, 839; High Priest of Marquette Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Thrice Illustrious Master of Marquette Council of Royal and Select Masters; Eminent Commander of Lake Superior Commandry of Knights Templar and Recorder of Ahmed Temple Shrine of North America. He was also a member of Michigan Priory of Knights of the York Cross of Honor and St. Bonaventure Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine.
He enjoyed reading, genealogy, golf, and travel during which he played golf in all 50 states, all the provinces of Canada, and in three additional countries. He was proud to have played golf at over 500 different golf courses.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Cerona Kay Christensen Stevens; daughters, Brooke (Allen) Griebel of Oregon, Wisconsin; Amy Stevens of Janesville, Wisconsin; and Jennifer (Tony) Lee of Columbus, Indiana; son, Seth Stevens of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; and grandchildren, Parker, Brittany, and Caitlin Griebel, Jacie and Nina Griffith, Jacob and Kylie Smith, and Trevor Stevens; step- grandchildren, Parker and Tate Lee, Kristen (James) Bailey, and Kara Dale; brother, Charles (Laurel) Stevens of Kingman, Arizona; sister, Susan Chmielewski of Orange City, Florida; sister-in -law, Renee Stevens of West Farmington, Ohio; and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Stevens.
Funeral services will be held at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on April 10, 2021. Masks and social distancing required. Public visitation is 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm, with a private Masonic Service and family service to follow. Interment will be in a veteran’s cemetery at a later date.
The service will be livestreamed on the Fassbender Swanson Hansen Facebook page beginning at 2:45 pm.
The family thanks the members of John’s Big Boy morning coffee group, U.P. Home Health and Hospice, and Lincare Health and Medical. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children through Masonic Center in Marquette, Michigan or to U.P. Home Health and Hospice.
Condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.