Stephen Lynn Simon was born November 8, 1945 in Atlantic, Iowa to Mardell and Harold Simon of Anita, Iowa. Steve passed away unexpectedly at the age of 78 on March 25, 2024 in Huntington Beach, CA where he called home for 55 years.
Steve grew up on a farm south of Anita and attended his early school days in country school, graduating with the Class of 1964 from Anita High School. Following high school Steve joined the United States Marine Corp, serving from 1965 to 1968. He bravely served his country with two tours of duty in Vietnam for which he received a Purple Heart. He was forever a proud Marine proving “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”
In February of 1969 Steve moved to Southern California where he met his future wife. He was united in marriage to Susan Kay Petersen on September 5, 1971 and they had one son, David Lynn.
Steve attended college at Cal Poly Pomona to study Architecture. He was a very talented woodworker and owned his own cabinet-building and remodeling company, Wood Concepts, for 50 years building custom cabinets and furniture, and doing home renovations. There was nothing he couldn’t do or build and many friends and family members are happy to have his talents displayed in their homes.
Steve always thought of Anita, Iowa as his home and said that going home to Iowa was still his favorite vacation spot and never missed a chance to go back there for family events and class reunions. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and the Washington Redskins was his football team.
Anyone who knew Steve knows how he loved to have fun and made sure everyone around him was having a good time too. He loved a good card game with his cousins, something handed down from the previous generation and a wild game of “Bump,” making many Bump boards for the family. Steve loved all sports including golfing with The Breakfast Club, watching NASCAR and he enjoyed entertaining relatives who came to visit Southern California. He had the best smile and laugh, a fun and caring personality, and had the kindest most generous heart. He loved people and people loved to be around him.
Steve was preceded in death by his wife Susan (Sam) Simon in 2011, his son David in 2020, his parents and siblings Gary, Ronald and Janel Will, nephew Jay Marnin and brother-in-law Bud McCann. He is survived by his grandson who was his pride and joy, Zachary (Tavi) Simon of Lake Forest, CA, sisters Bette McCann of Wiota, Iowa and Janiece (Denney) Anderson of Visalia, CA and brother Rick (Shellee) Simon of Anita, Iowa, sister-in-law Jorene Simon of Aurora, CO, special niece Cheyenne Simon of Los Alamitos, CA and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Services will be held on Thursday, April 4th with a viewing at Heritage-Dilday Funeral Home in Huntington Beach from Noon until 2pm with Military Graveside Services at 2pm at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach. A reception will be held following at Eat At Joe’s in Huntington Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s name to the Anita American Legion Post 210; Post Office Box 143; Anita, IA 50020
