Stephen Hardiman

Stephen Craig Hardiman was born on January 30, 1951 to Bruce and LaDonna Belle (Jones) Hardiman. Steve died at home on Sunday, October 12, 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Steve's educational career spanned over 40 years as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor. Steve taught biology and life sciences at Carter Lake junior high and Thomas Jefferson High School. He then became an administrator with the Council Bluffs Community School District, serving at Kirn Junior High School, Thomas Jefferson High School (curriculum and discipline), Harmon Tucker Vocational Center, and finally returning to his alma mater as the Principal of Thomas Jefferson High School after obtaining his doctorate degree. He was proud to be the first Tee Jay graduate to be principal of Thomas Jefferson. It was a long-time goal for Steve to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Mr. Gaylord Anderson. He was proud of the administrative team he put together while at Tee Jay and was a loyal supporter and advocate of the students and teachers he served in the various schools. He experienced a great sense of satisfaction and pride as he continued to follow his students as they successfully pursued their careers.

Steve was honored to be inducted into the Thomas Jefferson Hall of Fame in 2018. After his retirement from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2006, Steve served as an adjunct professor in the graduate program of Clarkson College for seven years. He mentored students from across the country and was quite proud of his students who had ties to the Council Bluff community.

Steve had many hobbies and interests. He tried a variety of hobbies--diving deep to become quite knowledgeable about those pursuits. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, preserving foods, and spent many years gardening and growing a variety of plants. He was exceptionally skilled at making wine from the grapes he grew. Steve always took pride in his gardens, especially the vegetable garden across from the family business, Hardiman Greenhouses, as a demonstration plot for customers. He and his family grew thousands of tomato plants and harvested thousands of bushels of sweet corn through the years.

Steve's family was extremely important to him. He loved big family dinners, preparing traditional dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and especially family Christmas celebrations. Steve was his wife's, daughters', and grandchildren's biggest cheerleader and was quite proud to see them go to on to continue their education and be productive in their communities. He watched many dance team performances, basketball games, soccer games, softball games as well as theatre performances and musicals in support of his family.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Donna Hardiman; his brother David; his sister, Katherine; daughter, Carrie; and granddaughter, Lily. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Rhonda; daughters Brenda, Christina, and Kayla; grandchildren Nathaniel, Samantha, Owen, Dalton, Michael, Gabriel, Elijah, and Maverick; great grandson, Franklin; brothers John and Phillip, and sister Teresa. He was "Papa Steve" to Jackson, Josie, Jada, and Julianna.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The family will direct memorials.