BOONE, Iowa—On Sunday, March 2, 2025, Claudious Eugene “Gene” Stewart, age 83, entered the gates of heaven. His daughter, Christy, was by his side in Golden Valley, Minnesota, when he passed.
Gene is survived by his daughter, Christy (Jeff) Haider; son-in-law, Matt Hadley; grandchildren, Emily and Luke Haider, and Connor Hadley; as well as his nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Connie Hadley 1964-2024 and his wife, Charlotte, 1941-2020, as well as his brothers, sister, and parents.
Gene was born May 18, 1941, on a farm outside of Norwalk, Iowa, to George and Rena (Carpenter) Stewart. He was the youngest of 6 children. He was raised on a farm and went to a country one-room schoolhouse. They moved to Indianola the summer before his freshman year in high school. Gene met the love of his life that summer, noticing a pretty red-headed young woman dressed very nicely and started conversing with her. This young lady, Charlotte McCoy, became his high school sweetheart and later his wife for 59 years.
Gene graduated from Indianola High School in 1959. Gene attended Simpson College for a year, and then went to the AIB Business school in Des Moines to get his Business Degree. During that time, he and Charlotte were married on February 12, 1961.
Gene was employed by DoughBoy Feeds in Ames, IA, as a payroll and office manager from 1962-1979. In the fall of 1979, he began the second part of his career at Sonoco Products as the HR, payroll, and quality control manager until he retired in 2007.
Gene was a devoted Christian, husband, and father to his 3 favorite red-heads. He was an excellent example to his daughters of how a husband should cherish his wife. Gene was a very kind, loyal, and humble man to all he met. His warm, fabulous smile would light up a room.
One piece of advice he wrote for his grandchildren is the following:
Set aside time that will allow you to volunteer in church and community organizations.
Gene was a living example of that advice as a 60+ year active member of the Boone First United Methodist Church by ushering, serving on many committees, along with working the media booth during church services. He was actively involved in many organizations throughout his life, including Jaycees, Toastmasters (50+ years), Boone Kiwanis (50+ years) and the Boone Elks Lodge (30+ years). He served on the Boone Public Library board, Chamber of Commerce Board, helped coach Connie’s Little League and volunteered at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower House for many years.
Thank you to the Eastern Star Courtyard caregivers who cared for him for a year. Thank you to the Golden Valley, Minnesota Sunrise Sr. Living staff who cared for him the last 7 months of his life. He left a positive impression at both places, as he did with everyone he met.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, Boone. The Celebration of Life service will be 11:00 am, Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Boone First United Methodist Church, 703 Arden Street, Boone, with a visitation an hour before. A light luncheon will follow the service, and inurnment will be at the Ackworth Cemetery for immediate family, later in the day.
The service will be livestreamed for those that cannot attend, on the church’s Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/BooneFirstUMC/
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Boone First United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s foundation of America.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Gene’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com
C. Eugene Steward, 83, Golden Valley, Minnesota previously Boone, Iowa
