William Rogers Stebbins
December 30, 1950 – September 9, 2023
William (Bill) Stebbins, 72, passed away unexpectedly on September 9, 2023, in his home in Cumming, Iowa, with his wife Edie by his side.
He was born December 30, 1950, in Des Moines, Iowa to Dwayne and Jean Stebbins. After graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School, he went on to get a degree in Psychology from Drake University. It was at Drake where he met Inta (Edie) Liepa, who would become his wife of 46 years.
After graduation from Drake, his passion for anything that flies pulled his career path into Aviation, via the 132nd Iowa Air National Guard. He completed 20 years of service in 1991 as a Master Sergeant, where he was Supervisor of the Electronic Counter Measures Dept. His post military career was with the Federal Aviation Administration as an “ARTS” Automated Radar Terminal System specialist. He proudly served the US Government for a total of 34.5 years.
As a child, he used to take thing apart, like clocks, and then put them back together. As an adult, this take-apart/put together continued… like our furnace... right before the temperature dropped into the 30s!! Over the years Edie has learned to trust him and NOT panic. When personal computers evolved, he bought the empty-shell tower and custom designed and soldered all the circuit boards that HE wanted, in HIS way. Eventually, multiple computer systems graced his workspace at home.
For FUN, Bill and Edie loved their “Sailing-on-Sundays” lake outings to Big Creek with fellow sailors. He was a great Captain, but Edie, his crewmate, was a little on the rowdy side, and unfortunately not always willing to follow his commands. For even more fun, Bill and Edie joined a wine club, WARP, Wine Appreciation and Recognition Program. Members gathered to sample, share, compare and educate themselves on various wines from around the world. Lafite Rothschild was a big favorite.
For relaxation, fishing with his dad or our family at Woman Lake or Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota was always a perfect solution. For camaraderie with the guys, hunting for wild turkeys, pheasants or deer would be mandated.
A more serious passion involved the genealogical research of the Stebbins family history that dates back to Rowland Stebbins, who arrived in America from Essex, England in 1634. Our family roamed about many cemeteries over the years. Bill would say to our children, “Know and cherish your Roots!”. A favorite vacation for the family was to travel to both England and Latvia, where the two families originated from, to truly explore those roots.
The proudest moments in Bill’s life came first in 1985, when Bill and Edie were blessed to welcome their son, Brad, followed in 1989, by their daughter, Valerie. He loved volunteering to help coach the soccer teams for both kids, and Little League Baseball teams for Brad. When Brad’s new Scout Troop needed a Pinewood Derby track, Bill helped to build an amazing one!!
Recently Bill and Edie were able to witness the marriages of both children. Valerie to Ryan Babich in 2022 and Brad to Oyun-Erdene Tsasbaatar (Yuka) in 2023.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dwayne and Jean Stebbins, and his brother, Donald Stebbins. He is survived by his loving wife, Inta (Edie) Stebbins; son Brad (Yuka) of Arlington Heights, IL; daughter, Valerie Babich (Ryan) of West Des Moines; sister Barbars Strobach (Bill) of Racine, WI; sister-in-law Debi Stebbins of Lafayette, CA; nieces and nephews, Kathy Strobach, Jason Strobach, Charlie Stebbins (Patty), and Ashley Clayton (Andy).
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 12:30pm – 2:30pm at Merle Hay Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA with a Celebration of Life to follow at 2:30pm. Burial at Chapel Hill Garden with Military honors.
Memorial contributions may be directed to American Diabetes Association, Drake University, or St. Mark Lutheran Church.
