James Donald Stevens

James D. Stevens, 76, of Nappanee, Indiana, passed away peacefully, Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.

James Donald Stevens was born on April 3, 1945 to Wayne and Marie (Merkel) Stevens in Sullivan, Missouri. He grew up and attended school in the Bourbon area until his high school graduation. After graduation, he completed a Juris Doctorate degree at the University of Missouri while serving in the ROTC. After his college graduation in the late 1960’s, Don then enlisted into the United States Air Force where he honorably served our country for over 28 years, 24 of those years, serving in the reserves.

Don worked as a JAG officer in the Air Force and worked in the Advocate Generals office. After his honorable discharge in 1974, he then moved back to the Steelville area where he worked in a law firm there before moving back to the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, OK as a procurement attorney.

From there he went to work in the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and worked there for several years before moving back to the Bourbon area to take care of his parents. It was while working for the commission he met the love of his life, Donna. Together they were united in marriage later on in life in 2003.

He then moved back to the Cuba area were he opened his own law firm and worked there for just a short period of time before making his final working place the Missouri State Public Defenders office in which he retired in 2007.

In the midst of Don’s working career, he was still enlisted in the Unites States Air Force Reserves. During Desert Storm, Don was ordered to report to California and help serve the service men and women with all their legal paperwork before their deployments to Iraq. He also served as an attorney in Aviano, Italy while enlisted in the reserves. By the time that Don officially retired from the military he was a Lieutenant Colonel.

Don & Donna enjoyed traveling with each other to various places across the United States including the Rocky Mountains in Denver, CO, and the four corners where Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico meet.

Don loved people and loved to analyze things. He also loved spending time with and working with most of his colleagues.

The Amish people of Nappanee, Indiana also thought so much of Don. They were able to construct a coffin and donated it to Donna for Don’s burial in loving memory of him. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered, especially by his wife.

He is survived by his wife Donna, of Nappanee, IN; and three special friends, Keith Bock of Bourbon, MO, Chad Picker of Rolla, MO and Stacey Stockstill of Crocker, MO; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Marie.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Eaton Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be 12 p.m., Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Eaton Funeral Home with Pastor John Roach officiating.

Interment will follow at the Bourbon Cemetery will full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any Women & Children’s Shelters.

Friends may send their online condolences to Don’s family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.

All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Sullivan.