Bill L. Stevens, 79, of Topeka, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
He was born October 6, 1942, in Pawnee City, Nebraska, the son of William and Thelma (Packard) Stevens. He graduated from Seaman High School in 1960. After graduation, he attended Washburn University and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science.
Bill joined the United States Navy in 1964 and went to the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. His tours of duty included Ethiopia and Japan. While touring in Japan, he met the love of his life Eiko Eto and they later welcomed one daughter while stationed there.
Once back in the states, he joined the Naval Reserves and joined the US Forest Service. Bill and Eiko welcomed their second daughter into the family shortly after. After 16 years in the Forest Service, he went to Bible College and in 1990 Bill and Eiko moved to Jerusalem where they stayed for 17 years. He started a food bank program that eventually grew to feed over 25,000 families per year.
Bill was an active member of the First Assembly of God in Topeka, Kansas. He also served as a Military Scout for many years.
He had a passion for riding horses and passed down his love for horses to his granddaughter, Hadassah, who takes care of his horse, Matoka. Bill also enjoyed collecting and shooting guns, reading and loved spending time in nature.
Survivors include a his wife for over 54 years, Itsue Eiko Stevens; two daughters, Terri M. Stevens and Sara H. Stevens and two grandchildren, Christopher Falcone and Hadassah Stevens. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of life will be at 11:00am on Friday, May 27, 2022 at Penwell Gabel Funeral Home, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66604. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. He will be laid to rest at Vermillion Cemetery in Vermillion, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God, 500 SW 27th St, Topeka, KS 66611.
Bill's services was livestreamed and recorded.
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