Funeral services were held on Friday at the United Methodist Church in Cairo. The Reverend Kalaba Kapunda officiated. Burial was in the Souleville Cemetery near Boelus.

Karly Behrendt and Molly Swartwood sang. Beverly Brown was the accompanist.

Selections included “Jealous of the Angels” and “Go Rest High on that Mountain.”

Steve Klein, Lee Klein, Robert Stevenson, Duane Shepard, Colton Cumming, and Tyler Sokol were the casketbearers.

Jaxton Stevenson, Jaspor Stevenson, Jonna Stevenson, and Tatum Stevenson were the honorary bearers.

The family requested that, in lieu of flowers and plants, that memorials may be given to the family for later designation.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

John was born on April 30, 1961, at Aurora, the son of Duane and Loretta (Payne) Stevenson. As a child, his family moved to the Farwell and Boelus communities, where they farmed and milked cows for many years. John attended St. Paul High School and graduated with the Class of 1979.

After graduation, John began farming with his brother, Darren, which he would do the rest of his life.

John was united in marriage to Julie Ann Koperski on May 24, 1986, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell. The couple farmed near Rockville their entire married life.

In December of 2021, John purchased the bar in Rockville and renamed it the Rockin’ J Bar & Grill. John ran the bar with the help of his family.

He was a former member of the Young Farmers and was a leader of the 4-H Little Champs for many years. John and Julie received the Friends of 4-H award.

John enjoyed jeeping, camping, collecting farm toys, and recently found a new love for antique tractor pulls. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially his beloved grandkids.

He is survived by his two sons and daughtersin- law and his grandchildren, Johnathan and Blaine Stevenson, Jaxton, Jonna, and Jaspor of Boelus, and Jamie and Tiffany Stevenson, Tatum and Julian of Cairo; nine siblings and spouses, Duane and Nancy Stevenson of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Shirley Stevenson of Grand Island, Janet and Joe Moraczewski of Ashton, Karen and William Keesler of Kearney, Beverly and William Kennedy of Gibbon, Darren Stevenson of Cairo, Valerie and Greg Ambrose of St. Paul, James Stevenson of Ravenna, and Jason Stevenson of Ravenna.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Julie, on June 3, 2017; his parents; brother, Greg Stevenson; and infant sister, Peggy Stevenson.