Feb 1953
Business, Civic and Farm Leader Victim
Pulmonary Embolism.
Head of Stephan Implement Company Fatally
Stricken Early Today (
Mr. Stephan returned to his home from the
The body is at the Short Funeral Home where it will remain through
a brief funeral service scheduled for
Surviving are the devoted wife, nee Clara Boerner,
whose marriage to Mr. Stephan took place 40 years ago; a son, Melvin A.
Stephan, Marrs township; a daughter Mrs. Elvis Gentil, Mt. Vernon; four grandchildren; the aged mother, Mrs Henrietta Stephan, Mt. Vernon; a brother, Adam Stephan,
Mt. Vernon and three sisters, Mrs. Orteze Connell,
Detroit, Mrs. Earl Phillips, Evansville, and Mrs. Sylvester Huck, Mt. Vernon.
A native of the Salem Evangelical & Reformed Church vicinity
in Marrs township, a son of Paul and Henrietta Roth Stephan, Mr. Stephan was a Marrs township farmer until 1937 when he founded the
Stephan Implement company in Mt. Vernon, which developed into one of the
Tri-State's largest equipment enterprising farm equipment sales and service
firms. With his son, Melvin A; associated with him, he continued to
pursue his farming interests that included 40 year operation of the Crunk lands in Marrs township. Eleven years ago he built a modern home on
His entire business career was distinguished by a solid integrity
and progressive policies that assured its success. Successively, with members of the family
as business associates, he established Stephan Home Appliance and Stephan Farm
Supplies. Lat last summer he completed the modern farm equipment plant on
Road 62 at the east gateway of
Successful in his own endeavors, he directed his tireless energy
and alert thinking into varied undertakings for the advancement of the
He was the only man to serve three successive years as president
of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce, 1944, 1945 and 1946. Much of the
ground work now evident in the assured
Few individuals had contributed more to the building of better
relations, between rural and urban residents.
He had been a director of the Mt. Vernon Bulding
& Loan Association for a number of years and active in affairs of that
institution.
He was a life-long member of Salem Evangelical & Reformed
Church in Marrs township,
serving in official capacities and being a member of the finance and building
committee of the church at his death.
His fraternal affiliations were with
Mr. Stephan found his chief relaxation and pleasure as an ardent
outdoor sportsman.
He was a trapshooter of wide reputation,
having participated in state and national shoots. The sports of field and
stream likewise attracted his interest. A prime move in the organization
of the Mt. Vernon Gun Club he had served as its president -treasure during the
entire existence.
Progress and
growth dominated his every undertaking and his success exemplified a constant desire
for advancement which he translated into achievement through hard work, honest
and good judgment that were synonymous with his name.
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Originally submitted by Betty Sellers