Rodger "Rod" Hooper Stewart passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 86. He was born October 31, 1928 in Ellsworth, Kansas to E. Dean and Neita (Hooper) Stewart. Rod graduated from Plainville High School with the Class of 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps following WWII at the age of 17. He attended Kansas State University for one year then began working for Arnold's Furniture in Plainville in 1948. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Brumbaugh on December 11, 1949 in Plainville. In 1972 he became co-owner of the furniture store and in 1983 he became the sole proprietor. For over 50 years Rod was a member of the Plainville Fire Department where he served as Assistant Fire Chief for many years. He was also a charter member of the Plainville Rescue Squad, serving as one of the main divers. He was a councilman for the City of Plainville and a member of Plainville Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) which was instrumental in bringing Schult Homes to town. He was an active member of the First Christian Church, serving as deacon, elder, and Sunday School teacher. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and gardener. Rod is survived by his wife Phyllis of the home; son Dr. J.D. Stewart and wife Margie Hakel of Pasadena, CA; daughters Sheri Page and husband Mike, and Stephanie Bjornstad and husband Wes, all of Plainville; six grandchildren, Claire Marquez, Graham Stewart and wife Kate, Buffy Woodward and husband Eric, Hayley Brown and husband Dean, Audrey Bell and husband Brady, and Kelsey Bjornstad; eight great-grandchildren, Emily Cassidy, Beatrice Stewart, Kyleigh Woodward, Dakkota Brown, A.J. Brown, Zoe Brown, Maximus Brown, Blake Bell; brother-in-law Jack Pulec and wife Joyce of Wichita; sister-in-laws Eileen Haston of Hermitage, MO; Carol Jaco and husband John of Great Bend, and Dianne Williams and husband Donavon of Vassar. He was preceded in death by his parents E. Dean and Neita Stewart, and his sister Glenice Pulec.
SOURCE: Plumer-Overlease Funeral Homes