1923
Eugene
2014
Eugene Stegmiller
October 30, 1923 — December 21, 2014
Eugene Stegmiller, 91, Bismarck, formerly of Mandan, ND died December 21, 2014 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Shane Campbell as celebrant. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Mandan VFW Post #707 and American Legion Post #40.
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 5:00 pm followed by a Parish Vigil at 5:15 pm. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Gene was born in Fallon, ND on October 30, 1923 (just three days after his bride of 64 years, Emma) to Joe and Edith (Friesz) Stegmiller. He served in the Air Force/Signal Corp during WWII. After spending 30 days on a ship and experiencing a tsunami, he vowed never to get on a boat again.
He loved to dance and that’s how he met Emma Leingang. They wrote letters while he was away at war and married six weeks after his discharge on July 9, 1946. They farmed near Flasher for 11 years before moving to Mandan where Gene initially did construction work. He also worked at Dakota Flooring for a number of years and in 1963 he was hired in the maintenance department for the “new” Mandan Hospital. He continued there until his retirement. Gene loved accordion music. As a young man he and his brother traded with a neighbor—a calf for an accordion. He took a couple of lessons but mostly played by ear and later taught his youngest brother, Henry, how to play. His band Dakota Boys could be heard at weddings, anniversaries and polka fests. Gene had to stop playing in 1987 after he suffered a stroke; however he continued to enjoy listening to polka music both on television and Sunday afternoons. Gene also loved to play cards, especially pinochle. He and Emma often played cards several nights a week with their many friends. Gene and Emma were planning to move to an assisted living apartment when on July 8, 2010 a week before their move Emma passed away. Gene lived in Valley View Heights for three years prior to moving to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. In his last years, he enjoyed playing cards, reading, watching westerns and “reminiscing.” He loved to laugh and joke with the staff, his visitors and family.
Gene will be deeply missed by his son, Dave (Dorothy), Mandan; daughters, Sharon Wetzel, Bismarck, Deb (Allen) Bosch, Mandan and Karleen (Marty) Flakus, Winner, SD; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dean (Dana) Stegmiller and their children, Carter, Logan and Macy, Dawn Tipton and her children, Kaleb, Chloe and Kylee, Dewey (Crystal) Stegmiller and their children, Zach, Nathan and Lucas and Danelle (Matthew) Klaman and their children, Abigail, Emily and Olivia; brothers, Leo (Rufina) Stegmiller and Henry (Leona) Stegmiller; sisters-in-law, Frances Stegmiller, Marge Stegmiller, Elizabeth Leingang and Hildegard (Christ) Hatzenbuhler.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma; son-in-law, Al Wetzel; sisters, Pauline (George) Bohl and Frances (Jack) Hatzenbuhler; brothers, Manuel, Joe Jr. and Lib; sister-in-law, Katie (Sebastian) Hopfauf; brothers-in-law, Anton (Tillie) Leingang; Jack Leingang; Joe(Lorraine) Leingang, Jr. and Ralph Leingang.
The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Valley View Assisted Living and Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for the wonderful care they provided to Gene.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Shane Campbell as celebrant. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Mandan VFW Post #707 and American Legion Post #40.
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 5:00 pm followed by a Parish Vigil at 5:15 pm. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Gene was born in Fallon, ND on October 30, 1923 (just three days after his bride of 64 years, Emma) to Joe and Edith (Friesz) Stegmiller. He served in the Air Force/Signal Corp during WWII. After spending 30 days on a ship and experiencing a tsunami, he vowed never to get on a boat again.
He loved to dance and that’s how he met Emma Leingang. They wrote letters while he was away at war and married six weeks after his discharge on July 9, 1946. They farmed near Flasher for 11 years before moving to Mandan where Gene initially did construction work. He also worked at Dakota Flooring for a number of years and in 1963 he was hired in the maintenance department for the “new” Mandan Hospital. He continued there until his retirement. Gene loved accordion music. As a young man he and his brother traded with a neighbor—a calf for an accordion. He took a couple of lessons but mostly played by ear and later taught his youngest brother, Henry, how to play. His band Dakota Boys could be heard at weddings, anniversaries and polka fests. Gene had to stop playing in 1987 after he suffered a stroke; however he continued to enjoy listening to polka music both on television and Sunday afternoons. Gene also loved to play cards, especially pinochle. He and Emma often played cards several nights a week with their many friends. Gene and Emma were planning to move to an assisted living apartment when on July 8, 2010 a week before their move Emma passed away. Gene lived in Valley View Heights for three years prior to moving to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. In his last years, he enjoyed playing cards, reading, watching westerns and “reminiscing.” He loved to laugh and joke with the staff, his visitors and family.
Gene will be deeply missed by his son, Dave (Dorothy), Mandan; daughters, Sharon Wetzel, Bismarck, Deb (Allen) Bosch, Mandan and Karleen (Marty) Flakus, Winner, SD; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dean (Dana) Stegmiller and their children, Carter, Logan and Macy, Dawn Tipton and her children, Kaleb, Chloe and Kylee, Dewey (Crystal) Stegmiller and their children, Zach, Nathan and Lucas and Danelle (Matthew) Klaman and their children, Abigail, Emily and Olivia; brothers, Leo (Rufina) Stegmiller and Henry (Leona) Stegmiller; sisters-in-law, Frances Stegmiller, Marge Stegmiller, Elizabeth Leingang and Hildegard (Christ) Hatzenbuhler.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma; son-in-law, Al Wetzel; sisters, Pauline (George) Bohl and Frances (Jack) Hatzenbuhler; brothers, Manuel, Joe Jr. and Lib; sister-in-law, Katie (Sebastian) Hopfauf; brothers-in-law, Anton (Tillie) Leingang; Jack Leingang; Joe(Lorraine) Leingang, Jr. and Ralph Leingang.
The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Valley View Assisted Living and Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for the wonderful care they provided to Gene.
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