March 28, 2024

Steve McDermott

Creston

Steve McDermott, 60, of Creston died Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Everystep Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 8, at Creston Community High School in Creston with burial in Greenfield Cemetery. The Rev. Jody Rushing will officiate. A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church following the committal service. Visitation with family present will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the high school in Creston. Memorials are to the Steve McDermott memorial fund to be determined. Steen Funeral Home, 101 SE Fourth St., in Greenfield is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com.

Steven Lee McDermott, “Steve” or “Mac,” son of Michael C. McDermott and Patricia Helen (Purdy) McDermott, was born Dec. 27, 1958, in the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. He attended grade school in Greenfield and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1977. Steve grew up on the family farm. Steve and family showed home-raised hogs and cattle. He was a founding member of the Iowa Junior Simmental Association and a member of Prussia Pushers 4-H Club and Greenfield FFA. Steve attended Iowa State University and later transferred to Westmar College in LeMars, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.

Beginning in 1981, Steve taught and coached at Prescott Schools for two years and Bridgewater-Fontanelle Schools for two years. He primarily taught art to students K-12. He coached football, six-on-six girls’ basketball and track and field at Prescott and B-F. He also farmed during his first four years of teaching.

On August 3, 1985, Steve married Cynthia “Cindy” Ann Wood. In 1985, Steve and Cindy moved to Adel, where Steve taught and coached for eight years. The couple later moved to an acreage north of Earlham. Steve continued to teach art to students K-12 and coach football, basketball, wrestling and track and field. He then pursued advanced degrees in effective teaching and educational administration at Drake University, earning a Master of Science in education administration in 1993, and later, a Specialist in Education degree in 2000.

Steve became principal at Battle Creek-Ida Grove Middle School in 1993. The family lived south of Battle Creek. He then moved back home in 1994 to serve as principal and curriculum director for the B-F and Greenfield Schools. In 1999, Steve was appointed shared superintendent of schools for B-F and Greenfield, where he shepherded the consolidation of the two districts to form the current Nodaway Valley Community School District. The family lived northeast of Fontanelle and later moved south of Fontanelle.

In 2002, Steve and family moved to Newton, where he served as superintendent of schools for 11 years. He served in leadership positions in the Newton Community Educational Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, United Way and First United Methodist Church. Steve was instrumental in the realignment of schools in Newton, numerous school construction projects and the creation of Regional Vocational Academy in Newton. The family lived north of Newton, before building a new home west of Newton. Steve and Cindy’s marriage ended in 2012.

In 2013, Steve moved back to southwest Iowa to serve as shared superintendent for Creston and Prescott Community Schools. The two districts later consolidated under his guidance. Steve lived on a farm north of Greenfield briefly, and then moved west of Creston.

Steve was voted Administrator of the Year by the Iowa High School Activities Directors Association, and he served on the Representative Council for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

He was a member of the Union County Development Association, Creston Rotary Club and First United Methodist Church in Creston.

Steve is survived by his daughter Casey; sons, Colten and Cooper; parents, Mike and Pat of Greenfield; sister Becky (Don) Raasch of Bridgewater; brother Marty (Deb) McDermott of Adel; one niece and five nephews.