Eli Stephenson, 36, passed away Oct. 22, 2011 at Clarkston, Wash.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Turin United Methodist Church with Pastor Thelma C. Subramanian and Pastor Fred Pilecki officiating.

Burial will be in Jordan Cemetery in rural Soldier, Iowa with military honors conducted by American Legion Grimsley Thayer Post #502, Castana, and the U.S. Army. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Rush Family Care Service at Onawa, Iowa.

Eli was born Nov. 26, 1974 at Orange, Calif. He was raised in Springfield, Ohio and graduated from North High School (Springfield) in 1994. He attended Western Iowa Tech Community College in Denison, Iowa for two years and earned an associate degree in heating, cooling and plumbing. During that time, he was on the dean’s list.

He joined the U. S. Army in 2004 and received a medical discharge in 2010. During that time he served two years in Korea. Eli loved the outdoors, hiking camping, photography and taking Reggie, his canine best friend, in the Jeep and enjoying the beauty of the Idaho hills and mountains. He was a very caring person who always found time to help those around him.

Survivors include his parents, Dale and Cynthia Johnson of Castana, Iowa; his siblings, Katrina (Rod) Utterback of Castana, Corey (Celina) Johnson of Onawa; Michael Johnson of Onawa and Chris (Jamie) Johnson of Hammond, Wisc.; a grandmother, Sheila Ellis of Friday Harbor, Wash.; nieces and nephews, Rylan, Ciana, Daulton, Lucas, Connor, Victor, Cheyanne, Autumn, Madison, Garrett, Jackson and Michael; special aunts and uncles, Robin Garcia, Michele Melborne, Sue and Robert Ayotte, David and Kathy Ellis, Don and Kathy Johnson and Darlene and Byron Kruse and a special friend, Brandi Jo Lawen.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alfred Ellis and Harold and Ruby Johnson.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com.

— Family of Eli Stephenson