NEWHALL: Jean Marie Stien, 73, passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Hospice of the Valley in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A Rite of Committal will be held in early October 2026 at Saint Patrick / Saint Paul Cemetery outside Watkins, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at the residence of Joan Stien outside Newhall, Iowa with details forthcoming. Per Jean’s wishes, there will be no funeral.

Jean was born November 24, 1952, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Delbert and Hazel (Schmidt) Stien, and grew up on a farm outside Newhall with older brother John Henry. Jean graduated from Benton Community High School in 1971. She went on to earn degrees in both nursing and history from Mount Mercy College, becoming the first nursing student there to complete a double major. She later received her master’s degree in nursing administration from Arizona State University. 

For more than four decades, Jean was a devoted nurse. She served most of her career as an operating room supervisor in Scottsdale, Arizona, before retiring at age 63. She was also a lifelong member of Saint Paul Catholic Church and a member of the John Ward McGranahan American Legion Auxiliary. 

Travel was Jean’s greatest passion. A pivotal moment in her childhood came when she read about the Temple of Abu Simbel, sparking a wanderlust that carried her across the world. She traveled internationally to more than 80 countries, revisiting many of them throughout her life. She enjoyed especially meaningful journeys to Egypt, India, Jordan, and the English countryside. No matter how many stamps filled her passports, she always said her heart belonged in Iowa, among family, friends, and the simple joys of home.

Jean will be remembered for her gift of storytelling, her witty humor, her remarkable memory for history, and her humble nature. A devoted reader, she often shared her favorite quote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” – St. Augustine.

In 2016, Jean courageously overcame stage three ovarian cancer. Beginning in April 2025, she faced myelodysplastic syndrome, a battle that ultimately progressed to acute myeloid leukemia.

Jean is survived by her sister-law Joan Stien of Newhall; her nephew Darrell Stien and his daughter Tori of Newhall; her niece Janelle and husband Jonathan Price and their children Alexandra, Isaac, and Isaiah Price of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as many dear cousins and precious friends. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and other beloved relatives.