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Alex John Stephens, 39, of Creston, died May 7, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, after a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the United Church of Diagonal, with services 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the Diagonal High School Gymnasium. Burial is in the Diagonal Cemetery.
Memorials are to the family to be decided. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Alex was born July 23, 1985, to John and Karleen (Cronbaugh) Stephens in Creston. He was welcomed home to the family farm west of Diagonal by his siblings, Adam and Abby. The home John and Karleen built for their children was full of love and laughter with Alex at the heart of it all, just as he was in his life in the Diagonal School and community. He carried the values instilled in him on the farm and in the community all of his life. He attended Northwest Missouri State University, pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon and graduated with a degree in agriculture business in 2008. He returned to Diagonal to work at Sur-Gro Plant Food Co. and farm.
In 2013 Alex married his beloved wife, Sarah Lynn Geist. It was a marriage of equals with regard to their shared mission to enjoy life, help others and be surrounded by too many good friends to name. They made their home in Creston and welcomed son Parker John in 2015 and daughter Peyton Lynn in 2018. They made a million memories in their all-too-short time together: at home, on the farm, camping on trips and at the lake in Mount Ayr.
Alex loved his family greatly and was immensely devoted and proud. He never missed an event or a chance to celebrate their accomplishments, big or small. Sarah, Parker and Peyton brought Alex so much joy, and his unending love for them is the well from which he drew his courage and strength to fight his battle with cancer until the very end.
Those who knew Alex will remember his smile and sense of humor. Alex was a master conversationalist: he was funny, quick-witted, always ready with the perfect comeback or movie quote. He loved sports, being outdoors fishing and hunting, especially if it meant being with family and friends. He loved working the land and raising cattle and was very proud to be a farmer with his dad. He flourished at the big roles in life: son, brother, husband, dad, uncle and friend to so many. He didn’t take life’s simple pleasures and small gifts for granted. In the end he was resilient, brave beyond any words and then finally: he was at peace.
Alex was preceded in death by his grandparents, Velmer and Maxine (Beymer) Stephens, Dale Cronbaugh and Alice (Wauter) Rychnovsky and grandparents-in-law, Carroll “Lefty” and Cleola (Burchett) “GG” Geist.
Alex is survived by his loving wife, Sarah Stephens; children, Parker and Peyton Stephens; parents, John and Karleen Stephens; parents-in-law, Crae and Jodie (Giles) Geist; brother Adam (Quinn) Stephens; sister Abby (Brad) Elliott; sister-in-law Kelsey (Nick) Neitzel and cousin/brother, Kevin Stephens (Sarah Pearl). He is forever remembered by nieces and nephews: Aria, Everly and Liam Stephens, Alice, John and Paul Elliott and Addison and Nash Neitzel; grandparents-in-law, Larry and Karon (Andrew) Giles; aunts, uncles, cousins and a very long list of friends.