David Stern

Herbert David Stern, 71, passed away on April 16, 2021 at home with his wife and step-sons by his side.

David was born on March26th, 1950 in Des Moines, Iowa to Herbert Stern and Betty (Whitcomb) Stern. The first bit of David’s life was spent in Adel, Iowa.  David’s younger years were spent in California and Oregon.  David attended High School and graduated from Sweet Home High School, Sweet Home, Oregon in 1968.  David joined the U.S. Army in February 28, 1969 and served our country until Jan. 2nd, 1971,  Much of his service time was spent in Vietnam.  He attained the Rank of MP SPEC 4 while there.  After discharge from the service, David enrolled in classes at Linn Benton College in Albany, Oregon where he received his Associate of Arts Degree.  While in college David took a pottery class and fell in love with the art of making vessels from clay.  As soon as he touched the clay, David knew it was his calling.  For over 40 years David worked as a potter and had his own pottery business.  The first was Kalapuya Pottery, then Iron Mountain Pottery both while he was living in Oregon and Stern Pottery after returning to Iowa.  In addition to his pottery business, David worked several different places during the years but two of his favorites were working for Kidco Headstart before leaving Oregon and working for the City of Indianola in the local Parks after returning to Iowa.

On September 1, 2003 David met the love of is life, Sandra Sue Metzger and their love story trekked David back to his birthplace of Iowa where they were married on May 7, 2005.  On that day David joined his forever family which included his two Step-sons Randy Joe and Ryan Metzger.

David and Sandra spent all of their married years living in Indianola, Iowa.  David retired from the City of Indianola in 2012 and he and Sandra spent an lot of time in the pottery studio and going to vendor fairs selling their wares.  It was one of the many “together” things they enjoyed in their years together.

David was preceded in death by his Father Herbert, Mother Betty and Brothers Michael and Stephen Hawbaker.

David is survived by his Wife Sandra, Step-sons Randy Joe (Abbey) Metzger, Indianola, Iowa and Ryan (Stacey) Metzger, Des Moines, Iowa, Daughter Rebekah (Brandon) Crichton, Philomath, Oregon, Grandchildren Jack Metzger, Des Moines, Iowa, Jonah and Evelyn Metzger, Indianola, Iowa, Jeffry Stern, Winston, Oregon, Cory Shewey, Oregon, Chelsea Messer, Winston, Oregon and Adam Crichton, Philomath, Oregon, Great-Granddaughters Paisley and Addilyn Stern, Winston, Oregon.

Also survived David is his Father and Mother-in-law Jack and Marilyn Runnells, Chariton, Iowa, his Mother by Choice, Ruth Stern, Portland, Oregon, Sister Rebecca (Dave) Huston, Portland, Oregon, Brothers David B. (Karen) Stern, Burdett, New York and Jonathan (Diana) Stern, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Brother-in-law Richard (Jo) Runnells, Albia, Iowa and Sister-in-law Rhonda Strife and Becky Runnells, Chariton, Iowa along with many more Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and other extended family members.

Funeral Services will be held at Fielding Funeral Home, Chariton, Iowa on April 20, 2021.

Burial will be to follow in the Chariton Cemetery, in Chariton, Iowa.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Stern, please visit our floral store.