Steven Wanders, 64 of Montezuma passed away Wednesday evening, May 22, 2024 at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lisa Wanders to determine a memorial in Steve's name at a later time. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Steven Ray Wanders, the son of Dwight and Dorothea (Newendorp) Wanders, was born on July 20, 1959 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He graduated from North Mahaska High School in 1977. On March 2, 1979, Steve was united in marriage to Lisa Heishman at the Assembly of God Church in New Sharon. To this union two boys were born, Nathan and Brandon. Steve grew up on the farm and loved to farm. He was a hard worker and worked for the Barnes City COOP and then was a farm hand for several years. He also built houses, worked for Kenny McCulley and most recently he worked for ProLine Builders as a steel frame foreman retiring after 19 years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping, watching farm shows on YouTube, his dogs and above all he loved his family and cherished the memories he made with them. He also helped at the Barnes City Figure 8 races for several years along with What Cheer, Sigourney and Brooklyn. Steve also most recently got into canning and gardening along with watching cooking videos on Facebook or YouTube to get recipes that he would tweak to make them a little better He was a member of the Barnes City Fire Department for over 20 years where he enjoyed helping with the fireman breakfast and was best known for his pancake mix. He also was a member of the Ruritan Club.

His memory will be honored by his wife of 45 years, Lisa Wanders; his sons, Nathan Wanders and Brandon (Jesi) Wanders; his four grandchildren, Harleigh Wanders, Kalynn Wanders, Haylee Walters and Wyllie Walters; his siblings, Julia (Randy) Pitman, Gary (Lana) Wanders, Laurel Wanders, Mary Jo (Randy) DeBruin and Marcia (Tim) Rodibaugh; his mother-in-law, Barb Heishman; brothers-in-law, Brian (Mindy) Heishman and Jim (Deb)Heishman; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and Dorothea Wanders; a brother-in-law, Tom Sheets; his father-in-law, Dale Heishman, an uncle, Henry Wanders and a great niece, Tessa Sauter.