Jeffrey Boyd Stoutner, age 80 of Clinton, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 27, 2024. A Celebration of Jeff’s Life will take place at the Eagle Point Lodge in Clinton, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10, 2024. The Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Jeff was born in Seattle, Washington, on January 28, 1944, to Boyd Freeman and Margaret Evelyn (Miller) Stoutner of Keota, Iowa. By the age of two, his parents returned to the family’s farms to raise Jeff and his brother, Cliff, in the town and state where his family had lived for generations. A class president and valedictorian at Keota High School, Jeff enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1962, majoring in political science with an emphasis in Hawkeye fandom. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1966, and his Juris Doctorate in 1969 from the University of Iowa College of Law.
In college, and as a member of the University’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, Jeff met the love of his life, Sherry, at a Fall bonfire party. He swept her off her feet by driving her to the party on the farm’s tractor. While still in college, he proposed to the budding art student, and on August 12, 1967, Jeff and Sherry married in her hometown of Manhasset, New York. During law school, the young couple lived in Iowa City. They stayed close to Jeff’s Keota roots and regularly attended his family’s Hawkeye tailgates.
In the Fall of 1969, Jeff and Sherry moved to Clinton where Jeff began a legal career that would span over 55 years. As an attorney at Holleran, Shaw, Murphy, and Stoutner, Jeff developed a lifelong practice serving local and regional families and businesses. Jeff also served the community for more than four decades as a member of the Clinton National Bank Board of Directors. Intent on doing what he loved, and with special thanks to Kim Ready, his paralegal of more than 35 years, Jeff maintained his active law practice and remained active with the CNB Board until his untimely passing.
Enamored by views of the Mississippi River, Jeff and Sherry lived close to it and raised their son, Duncan, just north of Eagle Point Park. The family enjoyed together all of the activities the River and Clinton afforded. Jeff spent a lifetime pursuing his interests and hobbies with Duncan, ranging from boating and fishing to golfing.
Jeff remained an active, long-time supporter of the University of Iowa’s academic and athletic endeavors. He was the class agent of his law school class, a member of the Iowa Law School Foundation, a charitable donor to the University’s Children’s Hospital, a member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club, a donor to the University’s golf teams, a member and past president of the Clinton County I-Club, a member and past president of the National I-Club Board, a member and past president of the Davenport Quarterback Club, a founder of The Voice of the Hawkeyes periodical, a former Hawk of the Year, and a lifelong ticketholder for Iowa football and basketball. Jeff was also active in numerous other philanthropic activities ranging from charitable foundations for the benefit of Clinton Community College (Paul B. Sharar Foundation) to conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited.
Jeff and Sherry enjoyed a lifetime of traveling. They especially loved visiting Arizona to spend time with Duncan, his wife (Nicole), and the apple of Jeff’s eye, his granddaughter, Alessandra. Most of all, Jeff loved golfing with Duncan and Alessandra. Jeff was Alessandra’s favorite caddy and biggest fan, and the feeling was entirely mutual.
Jeff will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 57 years, Sherry; his son, Duncan (Nicole) Stoutner of Scottsdale, Arizona; his granddaughter, Alessandra Stoutner; his brother, Cliff (Deanna) Stoutner of Houston, Texas; his nephew, Steve Stoutner, and his niece, Allison Stoutner-Cook. He was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd and Margaret Stoutner. Memorial donations may be made to the University of Iowa, directed to the University of Iowa Men’s or Women’s Golf Development Fund, at https://www.givetoiowa.org/ or the Paul B. Sharar Foundation at https://eiccfoundations.org/paul-b-sharar-foundation/ Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
