Stephen Sullivan's Obituary
Stephen E. Sullivan, 66, of Clinton, passed away, Sunday, August 13, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family.
Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Friday, August 18, 2023 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Kevin Sullivan, David Sullivan, Matt Sullivan, Daniel Sullivan, Will Bentley, and Devyn Hill. Visitation will be from 9:00am to the service time Friday at the funeral home.
Stephen Edward Sullivan was born on August 7, 1957, the son of Vernon and Dorothy (Hughes) Sullivan. He was a 1976 graduate of Clinton High School. He married Sherri Hopkins on December 17, 1976 in Clinton.
Steve was a man of few words until he got telling his stories of: His childhood days of getting caught in a power take-off shaft, telling about his Mommas pet pig, the numerous country road trips with his brother Kevin & the in-famous Dalton Lake, the big rig expeditions with his brother Mike, and the numerous made up stories of his friends Stimpy & Gonzalez-Gonzalez.
He was a hardworking, dependable man beginning at a very young age delivering newspapers & then into the pressroom at the Clinton Herald as a teenager. From there he worked a short time for International Harvester then went on the road for 3-4 years as a truck driver. The time away from family was too much. He was a welder by trade, moved the family to California and got a welding job at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft where he spent 8 years before they shut down. Not a fan of the fast life of California, he moved the family back to lowa and took a job with Merivic Construction as an Ironworker/welder. After several years there, he eventually got a job as a welder at the Rock Island Arsenal where he has worked the last 18 years until his illness. With his various jobs over the years, he always had side jobs of mowing several lawns & snow shoveling.
Steve graduated High School in 1976 and took several college courses related to his welding
career. While in California he entered numerous welding competitions where he received
several medals & certifications taking 1st place in many of those. His family was everything! He would sacrifice his own well-being to see them happy & enjoying life. He loved attending family gatherings where he could catch up on visits & stories. His love for kids was always noticed, as anytime there was infants/toddlers in the room, they would find their way into Steve's arms. Steve and his family opened their home to foster care for a few years & loved the kids like their own. Steve never saw himself as the kind, loving, giving, polite, and wonderful man he was. Those around him saw it and loved him for all those reasons. Family, friends, and even strangers could just about count on Steve for anything. He has left us with many sweet, funny, sad, and sometimes crazy memories and all these will ALWAYS keep him in our hearts FOREVER!
Steve is survived by his wife: Sherri of Clinton; two sons: Shawn (Melissa) Sullivan of Clinton, Ryan (Jackie) Sullivan of Preston; two grandchildren: Abby and Wyatt; his siblings: Kevin (Sharae) Sullivan of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Rosemary Sullivan of Wilton, Iowa, Gloriann (Scott) Davis of Hannibal, Missouri, Beverly (Henry) Bentley of Durant, Iowa, and Eileen (Sarne Moore) Sullivan of Wilton, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two granddaughters: Addy Jepsen and Olivia Sullivan; and his brother: Mike Sullivan.
Memorials can be made to the Clinton Humane Society or the Vince Jetter Community Center.
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