Steven Spencer Ward

Steve S.  “Papa” Ward, 66, of Ryan, Iowa, passed away at Regional Medical Center Emergency Room in Manchester, on Friday, July 7, 2017.  He was born on February 15, 1951, in Independence, the son of Richard T. and Arlene G. (Fox) Ward. Steve was raised in rural Monti where he attended school through eighth grade.  He then attended East Buchanan and North Linn Schools.

On June 15, 1968, Steve was united in marriage to Lynette McEnany at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan, where they made their home and raised their two children, Stephanie and Shane.  After working at the Ryan Creamery, he started his career at John Deere in Waterloo in 1972 until he retired in 2002.

Steve missed many “Thursday night meetings” uptown, choosing to be in his shop restoring his many classic cars, too many to count.

Steve and Lynette after years of hard work at Deere, Collins, on the Ward family farm, and at home in Ryan, finally started treating themselves by spending winter months in Florida.  They enjoyed Nascar races and warm weather with the Ryan crew and many new friends from across the U.S. they never met a stranger. Steve loved fishing, golfing, finding a good deal, and pontooning, the more the merrier.  Steve played first base for the A.M.P.I. fast pitch softball team for several years.

Survivors left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lynette of Ryan; two children, Stephanie (Scott Wharton) Sauter of Cedar Rapids and Shane (Ami) Ward of Manchester; six grandchildren, Taylor and Brody Kruse, Mason Sanders, Owen, Will, and Eva Ward; one great-granddaughter, Jordynn; nine siblings, Don (Rose) Ward of Waterloo, Shirley (Greg) Lehmann of Dubuque, Gary (Faye) Ward of Ryan, Tom (Kathy Walski) Ward of Dubuque, Sharon (Paul) Woods of Ryan, Karen (Jerre) Hauck of Ephrata, Pennsylvania,  Linda (Jerry Don) Wright of Dallas, Texas, Darwin (Michelle) Ward of Le Claire, and Shawn (Cindy) Ward of Peoria, Illinois;  nine brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Mike (Bev) McEnany of Walker, Pat McEnany of Cedar Rapids, Mary Pat (Brian) Kucera and Kenny McEnany, all of Cedar Rapids, Marcia (Randy) Fergesen of Ryan, Judy Wendling, Sean (Pam) McEnany, and Frank McEnany, all of Manchester, and Kevin (Tara) McEnany of Independence; one aunt, Mary Ann Ward Fangman of Monti; and many nieces and nephews.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; two infant brothers, Patrick and Keven Ward; his parents-in-law, Don and Louise McEnany; a sister-in-law, Karen J. Ward; two brothers-in-law, Joe McEnany and Emil Wendling.

As a husband, son, brother, father, papa, teacher, comic, and friend – Steve will be more than missed!

In lieu of flowers memorials would be preferred to the charity of your choice.

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