Alena Rose (Stroburg) Stephenson

AMES - Alena Rose (Stroburg) Stephenson, 96 years of age, was born October 12, 1929 to Clark and Sola Stroburg in Blockton, Iowa. She was the third of four children, with two older brothers and a younger sister. Alena passed into the arms of Jesus on January 10, 2026 surrounded by many loved ones. 

Services are in care of Adams Funeral home and will be held at Heartland Baptist Church in Ames, 3333 Stange Road. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 16, with the service held Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Alena Rose (Stroburg) Stephenson was raised on her family’s farm and had a childhood full of working, washing, gardening and canning. There was plenty of fun and play sprinkled in and much time and shared work with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Alena was also surrounded with plenty of pets. One particular lamb named “Tot” followed her wherever she went.

At the age of seven, Alena trusted in Christ as her personal Savior after hearing the gospel along with John 3:16 from her Aunt Sylvia. Her decision to follow Jesus was also deeply influenced by the childhood death of one of her cousins.

Alena attended a one room country schoolhouse until high school. She learned early on that she had a gift for memorizing and learned many poems and long passages from the Bible by heart. She also had a gift for remembering names and she and her husband would pray for each of their children (and spouses) and grandchildren and great grandchildren by name every day.

Alena attended and graduated from Blockton High School. After graduating high school, Alena attended Iowa Beauty School in Des Moines and worked as a beautician for several years. She had a lifelong interest in hair styles.

On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950, Alena married the love of her life, William (Bill) Stephenson in a ceremony at her parents’ home. They enjoyed many years together through many ups and downs. Trips to see family or adventures out west as well as a trip to Israel helped make many favorite memories. They celebrated 75 years of marriage last year in a gathering of nearly 100 members of their ever-growing family. In their later years it was rare to see one without the other. They cared for each other, read their Bible together (reading through it completely multiple times a year), prayed together, and enjoyed family, church, and social events together.

Bill and Alena moved to Grundy Center, Iowa just a few years into their marriage. They raised their six children there and loved attending the First Baptist Church and they also enjoyed the many friends they made. Alena gave much of her time to raising her children and keeping their home. They later moved to Windsor Oaks Retirement Community in Ames, Iowa and made many new friends and enjoyed a very full social calendar.

Alena volunteered in many ways including the Juvenile Detention Center and Iowa Regular Baptist Camp (where they also camped for many years). She liked to stay active with bike riding and water aerobics. Alena was artistic, creative, and resourceful. She enjoyed telling a story, reading books, hugs, coordinating a room or an outfit, quilting, putting together puzzles, and she made the best cinnamon toast. But mostly she enjoyed people. She never met a stranger…at least not for long!

Her family would say she saw the world through rose-colored glasses. She was optimistic to a fault and would often respond with “God is good” or “trust in the Lord”. Some of her last words were “thank you” and “I love you”, and that sums her up well.

When asked how she would like to be remembered, Alena said this: “I would like to be remembered for my faith and stand for the Lord. Nothing I have done has any merit. Galatians 2:20”.

Alena is survived by her husband (Bill), her children Mark (Shon), Paul (Denise), Sarah (Duane) Elson, Ruth (Dallas) Bee, Daniel (Michelle), James (Amy), 31 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, brother Eldon Stroburg, sister LaVelle Kunzman, and many nieces, nephews and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws Wid and Velora Stephenson, brother Harold Stroburg, sisters-in-law Norma Jean Stokes, Dorothy Dreher, and Mary Stroburg, brothers-in-law Bob Dreher and Harry Stokes, daughter-in-law Cindy Stephenson, and grandson-in-law Josiah Johnson.

Memorial contributions can be given to Windsor Oaks at 3723 Calhoun Avenue Ames IA 50010 or the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp P.O. Box 80 1600 E. Lake Street Ventura, IA 50482 .