Ronnie Lee Stegman

    Forever Funny Poppie, Daddy, Pocket Ronnie, and Husband - Ronnie Lee Stegman, 75, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022, surrounded by family after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. A lifelong Texan, Ronnie Lee was born June 5, 1946, in Dallas to the late Sophie Vita and Delmar Stegman. He was a Grove Rat and graduated from W.W. Samuel High School in 1964.

    He enlisted in the Air Force in 1969 as a Security Policeman and was first stationed at Cheyenne Mountain, Colo. From his first duty station, he was deployed to South Korea during the Vietnam War. He completed his military service at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. During his time in the military, he guarded alert aircraft near the Demilitarized Zone; enjoyed hiking and skiing Pike’s Peak, and was chosen to attend the Sheriff’s Academy in San Bernardino. After the military, he made his home in Pittsburg where he grew his signature beard, styled his hair with an iconic perm, and wore 1980s coke-bottle glasses.

    He loved to boast that he was a government streetwalker and was most-notably known around Pittsburg as the letter carrier who always had a one-liner or joke to share along the route. He even met his wife Michelle while on the route. They blended their families together after marrying on July 30, 1988, at St. William Laud Episcopal Church in Pittsburg.

    Ronnie’s life was one of service to others, a value which he instilled in his family. He was a storyteller, jokester, master woodworker, gun enthusiast, and an astronomy enthusiast.

    After retiring from the Post Office in 2003 after 30 years of service, he continued to serve at Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum as a docent, animal caretaker at the Homestead, and even delivered food on his old mail routes with Meals on Wheels.

    Ronnie also loved watching Ancient Aliens  and documentaries about Area 51, and listened to NPR’s Star Date. He was an amateur astronomer who took an Astronomy 101 class with his daughter at NTCC, drove more than 500 miles to Missouri in 2017 to see the Solar Eclipse in totality, and his son took him to tour the University of Texas McDonald Observatory in West Texas.

    Ronnie was Past Master of Frank Sexton Masonic Lodge #206 in Pittsburg; a Scottish Rite Valley of Dallas member; and Past Patron of Pittsburg Chapter 381, Order of the Eastern Star.

    He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lone Star. Above all else, he was a man who always did the right thing.

    Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents Sophie Vita and Delmar Rhineholt; sister, Doris Frizzell; brother, Grady Stegman; and his niece, Sandra Stubbs.

    He is survived by his wife Michelle; children Stephanie and Fredd Celaya; Jennifer and Darrin McCleary; Jeff Hindman and Tara Pavelek, and Sarah and Terrence Clagett; grandchildren Adam, Kimberly, Elizabeth, Skye, Charlotte, Tyson and Jules; and great-grandchildren Alex and Noah. He’s also survived by his sister-in-law Nell Stegman, niece Regina Stegman, and great-nephew Steven Stubbs.

    A memorial and celebration of life is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in Lone Star, Texas. In lieu of flowers, consider making a tribute donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, or donate to your favorite charity.