Fred Stone

Fred M. Stone, age 82, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2025.

Fred is survived by his mother, Eleanor L. Murray Stone, wife Virginia “Ginni” Jones Stone, son Matt Stone (Kimberly), daughter Shawn Stone Duff (Tim), son Seth Stone (Ashley) and his three grandchildren, Brogan, Dylan, and Keeley. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred T. Stone.

Fred was born on July 2, 1943 in Lebanon, Missouri.  He grew up in rural Wapello, Iowa, and graduated from Wapello High School in 1961.  Fred then attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he met Ginni, and they married in 1965.  Following graduation from UNI in 1965, he worked as an engineer for Chamberlain Corporation in Waterloo until 1970, when he began a more than 20-year high school teaching and coaching career at North Tama, Morning Sun, WACO, and Wapello.  After retiring from teaching, Fred remodeled homes and became a top tier handyman and fix-it guy.

Fred often waxed nostalgic about his and Ginni’s halcyon post-college years in Cedar Falls and he never passed up an opportunity to visit UNI or the surrounding area.  Fred knew how to build or fix almost everything in everyday life, from cars to appliances to roofs, and was constantly curious as to how things worked.  He was staunchly devoted to his family.  He was always up for playing catch or hoops on the driveway, and spent countless hours on home repairs or remodeling projects for Ginni and his children.  Fred and Ginni maintained a home in Ottumwa, but particularly in recent years, Fred would often revel in the serenity of the sunporch of his house on the family farm and near his brothers Greg and Norman, where he would enjoy watching hummingbirds, other wildlife and vintage TV shows, refining his newfound cooking skills, conversing with Greg, and devouring his sister-in-law Linda’s sweet treats.

Fred was always strongly and admirably principled, but as he grew older, he came to realize that graciousness and kindness yielded much more happiness, and although his life had its share of twists and turns, he ultimately lived one of joy, friendship, and service to others.  Fred was a good husband, father, son, brother and friend, but he was an excellent grandfather.  He will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at a later time.

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