Marvin Lee Stegman

Marvin Lee Stegman, 80, of Calhan, CO passed away at his home on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2014 following a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. Marvin leaves a large family who loved him dearly, and a legacy, integrity, humility and work ethic that simply doesn’t exist anymore. He was one-of-a-kind, and the world has lost a truly great man with his passing.

Marvin was born in Wheatland Township, Ford County, KS on April 10, 1934, the seventh of nine children of George M. and Marie Stegman. He spent his formative years on the family farm near Spearville, KS, where he was, according to his surviving sister, Patricia, “driving a tractor when he wasn’t even big enough to see over the steering wheel,” an apt statement defining a boy who would become a man who knew no obstacle he couldn’t overcome.

After the family moved to Colorado Springs in 1950, Marvin discovered his athletic excellence in football and water skiing, while also showing a propensity for all things mechanical while dirt track auto racing. He joined the Marines at 17 in 1951 to fight in Korea, where he was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as a machine gunner, thought by many to be one of the most dangerous posts for an infantryman. Following his two-year combat duty, Marvin returned to Colorado Springs where he endeavored a career in construction and married Jean Stegman with whom he fathered his three surviving children, Melanie Dubis, of Weston, CO; Lisa Fixler of Arvada, CO; and Daniel Stegman, of Colorado Springs, CO.

After running his own wrought-iron fence business and following a long career in the construction industry, Marvin retired as equipment division manager for Centric/Jones, a top 400 contractor in the US at that time. During his career, Marvin mastered many disciplines: electrical, ironworks, welding, heavy equipment operations, automobile mechanics, plumbing, masonry, structural engineering, solar energy, well-digging, and his true passion of farming/gardening. Needless to say, he was happiest while working, and sitting idle was simply something he didn’t understand.

Marvin is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lynne Taylor; his three children Melanie, Lisa and Daniel; his sisters Patricia Dewire of Colorado Springs, CO and Shirley Moore of Westerville, OH; and his adoring grandchildren Gabriel Dubis, Anna Fixler, Nicholas Fixler, Alexander Fixler, Alea Stegman and Lexy Stegman. He is preceded in death by his siblings Lalia Stout, Gene Stegman, Marjorie Wallace, Gerald “Gerry” Stegman, Michelle “Mick” Bailey, and LaVerne “Butch” Stegman.

To Marvin from his surviving family: We know you are now at Home and at rest. We believe you are watching over us and we’ll do our best to honor what you expect of us and to follow the honorable path you set forth. God be with you, dear Marvin. We love you with everything we have.

Visitation will take place from 4-6 pm on Wednesday, December 3 followed by a Rosary at 6 pm at Swan Law Funeral Directors, 501 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 1pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.