John Boteler Stevenson

He was born November 3, 1932, in Elyria, Ohio, to the late Archibald H. and Beatrice M. (Boteler) Stevenson. He married Devera Ann Moore on November 26, 1955, and she preceded him in death on February 24, 2000. His daughter, Nancy Stevenson Barrett, also preceded him in death on August 25, 2005. He married Colleen "Kelly" Wade Erickson on August 31, 2002, and she survives.

John enjoyed lake and water activities his entire life, including racing sailboats on Lake Erie, living on Sanibel Island in the winter, and family gatherings at the lake. He always loved being with his large family and many friends. He enjoyed golf, travel, playing cards, and watching his children and grandchildren in sports and events.

A man of strong faith, he was an active parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua and St. Isabel (Sanibel Island).

He was a loving man that will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He earned a BS degree from General Motors Institute, and an MBA from Xavier University. He had a successful career in automotive and components manufacturing, working for General Motors, Federal-Mogul, Sheller Globe, and Kysor.

Survivors include his wife Kelly; 13 children, Gerianne (Mark) Stohlquist of Chicago. Ill., Linda Stevenson of Elkhart, Ind., John Stevenson Jr of Lansing, Mich., Julie (Dave) DiMatteo of Hamburg, N.Y., Mike and Valencia Barrett of Coldwater, Mich., Kathy Bryan of Bethlehem, N.H., Laura (Tom) O'Brien of Lombard, Ill., David (Michelle) Stevenson of Elmhurst, Ill., Daniel (Dede) Stevenson of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Jeff (Christy) Stevenson of Omaha, N.E., Ron (Carrie) Erickson of New Era, Mich., Lora (Bill) Houseman of Rothbury, Mich., and Meredith (Tyson) Cobb of Muskegon, Mich. John has 42 grandchildren and one great-grandson, brothers, Bob (Ellie) Stevenson, Bud Stevenson, and a brother-in-law, Ray (Feef) Dellefield, and he was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Dellefield, and a sister-in-law, Honey Stevenson.

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 5, 2011, from 6-9 p.m. at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, Ind., with a prayer service at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 700 West Maumee Street, in Angola, Indiana.

Memorial contributions are to St. Anthony of Padua Building Fund and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.