David Allen Stover

David Allen Stover
October 22, 1946 – January 16, 2025

David Allen Stover, 78, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025, at Bishop Drumm Nursing Home, surrounded by his family after a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s. Born in Hampton, Iowa, on October 22, 1946, he moved to Knoxville as a child and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1964.

David married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia, in May of 1967, and together they shared 57+ years of love, laughter, and travel. He was a dedicated husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to all. David was known for his kind heart, quick smile, and his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. He was a man who loved being surrounded by people, whether it was at work, church, or spending time with his family.

For nearly 42 years, David and Cynthia were the proud owners of Little John’s Burgers on 2nd Avenue in Des Moines, where David built lasting relationships with his many loyal customers, employees, and vendors. His warmth, generosity, and love for people were the cornerstones of his business, not to mention the best tenderloin and fries anywhere. He was an esteemed fixture in the community, sponsoring the North Side Otters swim program and other community organizations for many years and provided free meals at Little John’s to all customers each Christmas Eve.

David’s favorite pastimes included fishing at Wine Lake in Canada, watching NASCAR, his ’68 Charger, and racing go-karts in his younger years. He enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and being part of a golf league with his son, Paul. His greatest joy, however, was being a grandpa. David cherished his time with his four grandchildren always finding ways to entertain them and create lasting memories. He enjoyed traveling with Cynthia and they shared many memorable trips with their family and friends.

David is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia; son, Paul (Jennifer) Stover; daughter, Paige (Tim) Hruska; grandchildren, Sydney, Jayden, Sierra and Ella; sister, Sondra Horn; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service to celebrate David’s life will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Hamilton's Funeral Home (121 NW 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA). Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, followed by the memorial service at 2:00 pm, and a reception with light refreshments. A private graveside service with family will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org), in memory of David.

David will be deeply missed, but his smile and legacy of kindness, generosity, and love for his family, friends and community will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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