Marvin J. Story, 78, of Stockport, IA passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Jefferson County Health Care Center. Funeral services honoring his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with Pastor Larry Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Dibble Cemetery near Stockport immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8 at the funeral home and will last until the time of service. Memorial contributions in Marvin’s honor may be directed to Stockport Fire & EMS and mailed to P.O. Box 122, Stockport, IA 52651. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Marvin J. Story was born on September 4, 1948, in Farmington, IA to JC and Mary Pratt Story. He attended school in Van Buren County where he graduated with the high school class of 1968. Marvin learned the value of a hard day’s work at an early age and began working as a farmhand right out of high school. In 1969, at the Stockport Methodist Church he married the love of his life, Jeannie Appleman. Together they became the loving parents of two children, Rodney and Kaci and would spend the next 57 years by each other’s side. Marvin took a job with Northern Propane where he was a delivery driver as well as working on furnace installation. In a time when funeral homes also provided ambulance transport services, Marvin began helping Gilbert Burch at the funeral home in Birmingham which eventually transitioned into Raymond Funeral Home beginning a long-lasting friendship with Jack Raymond.
Marvin always had a willingness to serve others and began his service to Van Buren County as a Deputy Sheriff in 1973 and becoming the Van Buren County Sheriff from 1979-1984. Following his term as Sheriff he began working at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison where he would remain until his retirement in 2003. Following retirement, he remained active helping at Raymond Funeral Home and working at Orscheln’s and Hy-Vee. He later became a dedicated employee and friend at Cranston Family Funeral Home.
Marvin was someone who was always willing to help, whatever the situation may be. He spent over 60 years on the Stockport Volunteer Fire & EMS, caring for the community that he called home for so many years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend whose presence will be deeply missed but fondly remembered.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws; three siblings and their spouses, Melvin (Donna) Story, Zella (Wilbur) Hummell, and Gene (Nancy) Story, and a grandson, Hunter.
Left to share his story is his loving wife, Jeannie of Stockport, IA; two children, Rodney Story (Heather Billingsley) and Kaci Story; two foster children, Larry (Allison) Smith and Tony (Terri) Smith; six grandchildren, Nikia (Dillon) Fry, Lucas (Kenady) Story, Hannah Story, Landon Story, Kory Horn and Kolton (Courtney) Horn; six great grandchildren, Abel and Miles Fry, Georgia and Daisey Story, and Alex and Abby Horn, as well as many extended family and many, many, friends.
