Cindy Lu Stehl, 64, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. She was surrounded by her loving family following a courageous 2-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Cindy was born August 24, 1958 in Columbia, Missouri to Paul and Velda Roemer. As the youngest of three children, Cindy was always up for adventure. She would often be seen riding her tricycle in front of Jesse Hall on the Mizzou campus or running up to her grandmother’s house wearing her most stylish outfit—underwear, patent leather shoes, and a great handbag.
In her early years living in Columbia, her parents owned and operated Kampustowne Grocery. Cindy was no stranger to the front refrigerator case where she’d often sneak in and grab a stick of butter as an afternoon snack. Her love of charcuterie and getting the party started began in her childhood with cheese, crackers, and a cold Pepsi at the round coffee table in her family room.
Cindy attended Hickman High in Columbia, Missouri. She drove a convertible MGB in high school and was known for her excellent driving record. She recalled getting in 11 wrecks in the MG, including one wreck where she hit a cow while in her cheerleading uniform on her way to a football game.
Cindy graduated with an undergraduate degree in Interior Design from University of Missouri. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority where she served loudly and proudly as the Social Events Chairman and Homecoming Parade float chairman. It was during her freshman year at Mizzou that Cindy met her future husband and love of her life, Doug Stehl. Her sorority sisters said it was “one and done” and that she knew she was going to marry Doug from the very beginning.
Cindy and Doug married February 19th, 1983. They sought out for adventure immediately following the wedding with a trailer behind their car as they headed off to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They built a strong foundation for their marriage that first year in Tuscaloosa, and eventually made it back to Kansas City as they embarked on new career opportunities and started a family.
Cindy began her professional career with RD Mann Carpet Company. She held a reputable career in interior design first starting out with Kopps Interior Design, then transitioning to Madden McFarland, and later establishing her own successful business as Cindy Stehl Interiors.
Cindy and Doug welcomed their first son, Drew, in 1986, the second son, Alex, in 1989, and youngest son, Austin, in 1991. One of Cindy’s greatest joys in life was being a mother to her three sons. Raising three boys was no easy task but she did it with a color-coded fridge calendar, daily to do lists, Sunday night pitchers at Ponak’s, and Prince’s Little Red Corvette cassette tape. She had to eat many orders of crinkle fries at 3 & 2 baseball stadium along the way, but she never missed a game and was always the Stehl boys’ biggest fan.
Cindy raised her sons to be responsible and respectful gentlemen and was so proud to call them hers. When her sons married, she was delighted to become a mother-in-law and friend to Emily, Kelby and Kristen. Cindy had many joyous memories over the years with her sons and daughters-in-law at the Stehl Lakehouse in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Most recently her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother to four grandchildren who loved their Lulu.
Cindy was an acclaimed party aficionado. She had a gift for connecting with people from all walks of life, making everyone feel welcome, and bringing people together to celebrate. It didn’t matter what the occasion was—Cindy could whip up a charcuterie platter at a moment’s notice and would greet you at the door with a warm smile, a glass of wine, and a “here’s to ya” toast.
Cindy never met a stranger and made countless friends she kept in touch with throughout her entire life. She thrived on fun and friendships and will always be remembered for her infectious laugh and love of life.
Cindy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Doug Stehl, of the home; son Andrew Clayton Stehl (Emily), St. Louis, MO; son John Alexander Stehl (Kelby), Prairie Village, KS; son Austin Mitchell Stehl (Kristen), Prairie Village, KS; grandchildren Samuel Landis Stehl, Whittaker Lorraine Stehl, Hadley Lu Stehl, and Sutton Louise Stehl; sister, Nancy Merrill (Scott), Kansas City, MO; brother, David Roemer (JoEllen) Columbia, MO; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Cindy’s life will take place on Friday, September 30, 2022 at 11AM at Country Club Christian Church (6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO) with a reception following at The Kansas City Country Club (6200 Indian Lane, Mission Hills, KS) from 12PM – 2PM.
The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, texts, calls, and meals during Cindy’s battle. The outpouring of love has been amazing. Please know Cindy and the entire family felt the love all throughout this journey. We would also like to thank the staff of Kansas City Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to KC Hospice & Palliative Care or Country Club Christian Church.
And finally, as Cindy would say, “Don’t lose your fun button.”
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