James Horace Stehle, Sr. was born on August 7, 1935 to Hugo and Bessie Stehle. After graduating from Nederland High School, Nederland, Texas in 1952, he joined the US Coast Guard as a merchant marine where he served in Sabine, Beaumont and Lake Charles areas until 1953. In 1954, he joined the US Air Force and was stationed in Misawa, Japan and then in San Antonio, Texas, where he retired from service in 1958.
James met his beautiful wife, Sue, in the beginning of the summer of 1959, and a few short months later they were wed on September 4, 1959. They had four beautiful children which led to a coffer full of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In 1960, James began his longtime career employment at Dupont in Beaumont, Texas, where he started as an operator, transitioned into a foreman, a supervisor and lastly, their safety specialist. While working as the safety specialist for Dupont, James created the “Rhythm Program” for the safety division which was then implemented and followed at Dupont. James retired from Dupont in 2001, but was quickly recruited back to serve as safety specialist for a special project that lasted through 2002. After retiring a second time from Dupont, he was quickly recruited by MidWest Steel in Houston where he served as the safety director for them from 2002 through 2017. While employed by MidWest Steel, James earned his doctorate degree in safety. Upon final retirement from MidWest Steel, he began living out his “golden” years back at home in Beaumont with his devoted wife Sue, where he could be found spending time out in his shop, working on projects, tending to the yard or his gardens and would enjoy being surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends.
James was well known for his complete faith in God, which permeated every aspect of his life. He was a faithful member of Freeway Baptist Church, Beaumont, where he and Sue raised their four children to have a deep foundation in the Lord. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, co-worker, and friend to all of those around him. His profound love for his family was evident by the light in his eyes when he spoke of them, but sparkled the brightest when he spoke of his Sue. At the time of his passing, they were married for 65 years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Bessie Stehle, and son, James Horace Stehle, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sue Stehle of Beaumont; daughter, Cindy Gonzales and husband, Chris, of Beaumont; daughter, Sharee Wells and husband, Paul, of Sour Lake; son, Robert Stehle and wife, Melanie of Nederland; grandchildren Christopher Gonzales, Jordan Gonzales, Robert “Bobby” Wells, Kaleb Wells, Lyndsey Hebert, Haley Stehle and PFC Hayden Stehle, numerous great grandchildren, as well as a host of family and friends alike.
Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher Gonzales, Jordan Gonzales, PFC Hayden Stehle, Robert “Bobby” Wells, Kaleb Wells and Parker Keele.
