Rev. Steven Ray Nerness, 68, of Tama, died on Monday, November 30, 2020, at his home in Tama due to a short illness. Graveside Services at Cambridge Cemetery in Cambridge, Iowa.

Steven was born on June 7, 1952, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Harlan and Jane (Hutson) Nerness. He graduated from Ballard High School in Huxley, Iowa and earned a BA in Business Management from the Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

On August 14, 1971, he married Mary Sorenson at the Assembly of God Church in Nevada, Iowa.

Steven was a missionary for most of his career to Native American tribes across the country. These included Sioux tribe in South Dakota (where they started the first church on the Little Eagle Reservation), Coushatta tribe in Louisiana, and Meskwaki tribe in Iowa. Prior to becoming a missionary, he was a Pastor at the Assembly of God Church in Webster City, Iowa.

Steven was a member of the Mesquakie Celebration Assembly of God Church in Tama where he was a Deacon and Board member. He enjoyed rock hunting, hunting, fishing, woodworking, and knife making.

Survivors include his wife Mary of Tama; four children, Steven (Kari) Nerness Jr. of Springfield, Missouri, Misty Nerness of Tama, Israel (Jonalyn) Nerness of Toledo, Iowa, and Jacob Nerness of Toledo, Iowa; his mother, Jane Nerness of Cambridge; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Rebecca Nerness of Cambridge, and Tammy Nerness of Ames.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harlan.

Source: Kruse~Phillips Funeral Home, Tama, Iowa

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