Steven Dean Warner: Artist, Gardener, Chocolatier, Mentor (and so much more)—Steven Dean Warner, 75, died July 13, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Steven was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on January 17, 1951. He was the 5th of 5 children, born to Clyde and Freda (Glosser) Warner. He lived his entire childhood on the farm southeast of Blakesburg, Iowa. He often talked about his idyllic childhood on the farm.

Steven attended and graduated from Blakesburg High School in 1969. After graduation, he attended Ottumwa Heights, in Ottumwa, Iowa. In 1970, he came to Iowa City, IA, to attend the University of Iowa, where he studied Art at the School of Art, obtaining a BFA.

Steven worked at The University of Iowa in various capacities, including Graphics Artist (Named Best of the Best by the International Computer Graphics Association), accruing a 30-year tenure.

Steven met Harlan Sifford (Art Librarian, The University of Iowa) in 1971 and began a 50-year-long relationship. In 2010, Cat adopted them and took over the household. Harlan died in 2021, after 50 years together exploring the world.

Around 1977, Steven started Just Chocolate, a business that created handmade chocolate truffles, which he sold to THINGS AND THINGS AND THINGS in Iowa City, as well as across the USA, including The Chocolate Truffle in Boston, MA, where it was named Best in Boston by Boston Magazine. He also had several other small businesses drawing upon his artistic talents.

Those who knew him also knew that he was an avid gardener with the greenest of green thumbs. His gardens were included in more than one Iowa City Garden Tour. Color, fragrance, and lush foliage were the trademarks of beauty and tranquility of his garden.

In 2000, Steven returned to making drawings and paintings with graphite and paint (rather than computers). In 2006, he left the University and made more Art and Chocolate. In 2013, Just Chocolate came to a quiet end. Since 2000, Steven has sold more than 2,000 pieces of art online. His artwork has been published internationally and is in collections worldwide. In February 2025, his painting, Peel the Onion, was exhibited in the Layered exhibition at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines, Iowa.

In December 2025, Steven married Michael J. Rotzler.

Steven was still making art at the time of his passing. He hoped his art would bring joy to people. His garden is still blooming as of the writing of this obituary. It lives on to honor him while continuing to bring joy and beauty to those who love him.

He is survived by his husband Michael, sister Gayle, brother-in-law Chris and brother Gordon.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Evelyn, his brother Maynard, first husband Harlan and his beloved cat named Cat.

A celebration of his life will be held in the fall of 2026.

Memorial donations can be directed to

the Iowa City animal center at http://www.icanimalcenter.org/

or

Holden Cancer Center research at https://donate.givetoiowa.org/s/1773/giving/19/interior.aspx?sid=1773&gid=2&pgid=509&cid=1288&dids=285.284.&appealcode=GFWEB