Stephen Hail Stierwalt, Sr. Obit

Tahlequah--Funeral services for Stephen Hail Stierwalt Sr., 50, of Tahlequah will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002 at the Reed-Culver Funeral Home with Dr. Nancy Pittman and Rev. Harry England officiating. Burial will follow at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery with military honor presented by the U.S. Airforce.
Services are under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home.
Pallbearers include Jerry Ford, Ray Myers, Kyle Cooper, Bill McNiel, Michael L. Martin, Bigie Rhea and Dale Keys.
Stephen Hail Stierwalt Sr. was born Nov. 25, 1951 in Oklahoma City, the son of Floyd H and Irma Lee (Hail) Stierwalt and he passed from this life on Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 in Tahlequah. Stephen grew up in Tahlequah. He attended Tahlequah Public Schools and participated in football, basketball and baseball.
He was a 1970 graduate of Tahlequah High School. Following graduation, he attended Northeastern State University. Stephen then joined the U.S. Airforce in 1971. His duty stations included Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and Altus Air Base in Oklahoma.
He spent seven years on active duty and was discharged as a sergeant in 1978, Stephen then joined the Oklahoma National Guard and was discharged in 1986. He is a member of the First Christian Church in Tahlequah and the American Legion Post.
He had worked at Tahlequah Lumber Co., Northeastern State University bookstore and had operated his own small-engine repair shop.

He was an avid sportsman and loved bass fishing. Stephen was married to Mattie L. Downing on Feb. 14, 1980. He is survived by his wife, Mattie, of the home; two sons, Ronald A. Stierwalt of the home, Stephen H. Jr. and his wife Lisa, of Broken Arrow; grandchildren Christian and Analise Stierwalt of Broken Arrow; parents, Floyd H. and Irma Lee Stierwalt of Tahlequah; brother Charles H. and his wife, Jan Stierwalt, of Coweta; sister, Stacy and husband James Cochran of Coweta; nieces and nephews, Kerri Cochran, Justin Cochran, Tiffany Stierwalt and Sarah Stierwalt of Coweta. He also leaves behind many friends and his fishing buddies.