Ivan Stearns, 82, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009.
Ivan was born in Weston, Ohio to the late Elmer and Esther (Kidd) Stearns. He married Joyce Businger on
October 22, 1950 in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Bowling Green, and she survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Peggy Ebersole of Bowling Green; two grandchildren, Katrina Carter and
Aaron Ebersole; three great-grandchildren, Ivan, R’yionne, and Sharrice; and a sister, Irene Grosswiler
of Norwalk, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Linda Dawn and Charlotte Nadine Stearns; an infant brother,
Roy Stearns, and half sister, Florbelle Meyers.
Ivan graduated in 1944 from Liberty High School and would later proudly serve his country in the U.S.
Army where he was decorated with the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal
and the Meritorious Unit Award Medal.
He graduated from BGSU, attended the University of Michigan and later graduated with his Master’s of
Science in 1954 from the University of Illinois.
His career in teaching began with the Fisher, Illinois Schools in 1955; North Baltimore, Ohio Schools in
1958 and later Bowling Green City Schools in 1963. He retired in 1992.
He was an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church where he served as a trustee on their
board and also enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a member of the Tontogany Post of the American
Legion; Alpha Epsilon Delta national pre-med honor society; life member of International Order of King’s
Daughters & Sons, and the Wood County Genealogy.
He also enjoyed attending and participating in many of the National Science Summer Institutes held in
Aspen, Colorado; Brookings, South Dakota; Springfield, Ohio; and Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 1 to 3 p.m. and Monday, July 13, 2009 from 4 to 8 p.m. in
the Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home & Crematory, 1460 W. Wooster St., P.O. Box 648, Bowling Green,
Ohio 43402, Tele: (419) 352-2171.
Mr. Stearns’ memorial service will be Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Trinity United Methodist
Church, 200 N. Summit St., Bowling Green, Ohio 43402.
Memorial contributions may be gifted in Ivan’s memory to the Wood County Unit of the American Heart
Association or to the church.
Online condolences may be made to Mr. Stearns’ family by visiting www.hannemanfh.com.