William K. Stephenson

RICHMOND, Ind. - William K. Stephenson, age 89, of Richmond, died Sunday, October 2, 2016, at Friends Fellowship Community. Bill was born on April 6, 1927, to Edward and Florence (Auguston) Stephenson in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up and attended public schools in Galesburg, Illinois, where he was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving the highest ranking of Eagle Scout. Upon graduating high school in 1945, Bill proudly joined the United States Navy, and served in Hawaii as World War II was ending. He then attended Knox College in Galesburg, where he met Jane Bergquist. Bill graduated from Knox in 1950, and he and Jane were married in 1951, one week after her graduation. Bill’s undergraduate experience focused his interest in the life sciences, and led to graduate work at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Ph.D. in Biology in 1955. While in graduate school, he received a Fellowship to study at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This opportunity caused both Bill and Jane to fall in love with the ocean and the international scientific community found in Woods Hole. They built a summer house there in 1965, where they spent 46 glorious summers, creating many lifelong friendships and family memories. Bill and Jane came to Earlham in 1954, where he began as an Assistant Professor of Biology. In his 42 years teaching at Earlham, Bill’s ebullient teaching style and constant dedication to and fascination with the life sciences inspired countless students throughout his teaching and advising career. It has been told that he used his acting and communication abilities to great effect in his classroom. During his professorship at Earlham, Bill took sabbaticals to conduct research at the University of Colorado, Boulder; University of New Mexico in Albuquerque; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He and Jane had the privilege of leading an Earlham student group to England with the Foreign Studies Program, and a subsequent group to Japan through the Studies in Cross-Cultural Education. In 1963 Bill was awarded the Doan Distinguished Teacher Travel Award by Earlham. With this honor, Bill and Jane traveled and camped their way through much of Europe in a VW microbus for five months with their three young children. Post-retirement he was awarded Earlham’s Distinguished Service Award in 2008. Bill was a man of many talents. During his summers in Woods Hole, he enjoyed being a lobsterman and sailor. He created furniture and mobiles out of driftwood and other natural and nautical items. Here in Indiana, Bill enjoyed hunting artifacts of the Indiana Native American Mound Builders. He was an award-winning actor in local Earlham and Civic Theatre productions. Along with Jane, Bill was an active supporter and patron of theater and opera in surrounding cities and during their frequent trips to New York City. He took great pleasure in teaching his three children to ski, sail, fish, and construct things. Bill thrilled young and old alike during Earlham May Day celebrations with his spirited puppet shows of 'Punch and Judy'. His community and the natural environment were very important to Bill. He was an early and longtime member of the Society for Preservation of Resources (SPUR) and the Resource Inventory Council. Bill participated in the Richmond Y’s Men’s Club and The Tourists. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Jane Bergquist Stephenson; daughter, Wendy Bruce (Richard Bruce) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts; sons, Scott W. Stephenson (Christina Myers) of Brown County, Indiana, and Matthew K. Stephenson (Margaret Casey) of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Corbin and Stephen Bruce, Gray Stephenson, and Elm and Sylvie Stephenson; one brother, George Stephenson (Nadine) of Galesburg, Illinois; nieces; nephews; and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents. The family wishes to thank the staff of Friends Fellowship Community and AseraCare Hospice for the dedicated care they provided for Bill. A memorial service in celebration of Bill’s life will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2016. It will be held in the Community Room at Friends Fellowship Community, 2030 Chester Boulevard, Richmond. Arrangements are being handled by Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The William Stephenson Collaboration Research Endowment Fund, 801 National Road West, Drawer 193, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374-4095. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

William K. Stephenson

April 6, 1927 - October 2, 2016