K. Stephens

Rock Island, Illinois
James K. Stephens, 53, of Rock Island, Illinois, died suddenly Friday, January 14, 2011, in the emergency room at Trinity Rock Island.
Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley, with The Reverend Tim Snart officiating. Visitation is 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Coal Valley. Private burial is in Rosedale Cemetery in Cambridge, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the church.
James Keith Stephens was born April 18, 1957, in Rock Island, the son of Darwin and Joyce (Doye) Stephens. He earned his Bachelor?s degrees in Religion and German, with a minor in music from Central College in Pella, Iowa. He married Eilene Bayard on September 29, 1979, in Visalia, California.
Jim was manager of Gendler?s Wine Cellar in Moline for over 25 years. He then was employed at the Wine and Spirits Department of Hy-Vee in Milan and most recently as Assistant Manager in Wine and Spirits of the Moline Hy-Vee.
He was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Coal Valley, singing in the choir and teaching Adult Sunday School for many years. He enjoyed traveling, most notably to Germany and Austria, and was a free-lance writer for numerous publications including the newsletters for Gendlers and Hy-Vee.
Jim will be well remembered for his ?joie de vivre? and his ever-present sense of humor.
Jim is survived by his wife, Eilene; his mother, Joyce Stephens of Coal Valley; a sister and brother-in-law, Barb and Dave Belville of Silvis, Illinois; a brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Laura Stephens of Big Bear City, California; nieces and nephews, Heather Crouch, Tim Benson, Kimberly Stephens, Ken Stephens, Scott Campbell, Beth Pfeiffer, and Colin Campbell; and great-nieces and nephew, Gabriella Lodico, Liam and Maggie Campbell. He was preceded in death by his father.
The family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Jim?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.