Steven Lee Vinton

Services: Monday, July 17, 2023, 11:00 A.M., Charles E. and Florence M. Lakin Community Center, 61321 315th Street, Malvern, Iowa. Casual attire preferred.

Private Interment: Pleasant Hill (Estes) Cemetery, Rawles Township, Mills County, Iowa.

A Determined Man

A person who is determined has a firmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal. It is a fixed intention or resolution to overcome obstacles. Steven Lee Vinton was the definition of a determined man.

He worked hard every day of his life to make something out of nothing. He loved deeply, especially his family, his friends and his animals. In return, he was deeply loved. He gave his best in every situation and was determined to fight to provide others hope, love, and most of all laughter.

But all of you know that. Here are some things you might not know.

Steve was born September 4, 1954 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Burl Dwayne and Beverly Nelle (Thomas) Vinton. He lived in rural Pacific Junction, Iowa and went to country school at Pacific City School until 1962 when he went to school in Glenwood and graduated from Glenwood Community High School in 1972. He was active in band and FFA, where he received a proficiency award in crop production. He discovered a love of raising hogs with one pig. By 1980, he was producing 900 to 1,000 mixed breed feeder pigs annually and eventually added a farrow-to-finishing nursery to the operation. He was awarded Master Pork Producer award by the Mills County Pork Producers in the early 90’s.

After meeting the love of his life on a blind date, he proposed a month later and was united in marriage to Carol Lee Kock on March 12, 1977 in Avoca, Iowa.

Steve and Carol made their life together on their farm in rural Mills County, Iowa, where they worked side by side making something out of nothing. They raised hogs, cattle and later added a menagerie of farm animal friends that included donkeys, llamas, buffalo, emus and many different breeds of exotic birds. Steve had a passion of sharing his animals over the years with thousands of children and adults by hosting farm tours and loaning animals to the petting zoo at the Mills County Fair. This love is shared by their daughters and passed on to the grandchildren.

Along with raising livestock, he farmed with his brother Joe for more than 45 years and worked with his family at Vinton Fertilizer & Equipment. He drove school bus for 38 years and never had a sick day. In his early years, Steve enjoyed tractor and truck pulls, bowling and won many trophies through the Wednesday Night Owls bowling league. He served on the Trustee Board of Rawles Township, local watershed Board and Mills County Pork Producer Board.

 Steve and Carol have two wonderful children, who married wonderful spouses: Stephanie and her husband Dan Pollock and Amy and her husband Dan Brockevelt. He loved his three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: William Steven Pollock (13), Viviana Beverly Pollock (8), DJ Nathaniel (13), Anna Brockevelt (12) and Addison Brockevelt (8), with his whole being and never missed watching any of their activities. He is also survived by his brother, Joe (Sandy) Vinton, many sisters-and brothers-in-law and lots of nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

Words can’t express how much the family appreciates the outpouring of love and support received from so many people. They hope everyone tries to focus on the incredible legacy this man left and how he lived each day to its fullest.

Memorial donations may be directed to Tabor Fire & Rescue or Vinton memorial funds to be designated towards a petting zoo at the Mills County Fair.