Gerhard “Bert” Stegerman
Gerhard “Bert” Stegerman, age 82, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 16, 2013. He was born in 1930 in the Netherlands to Gerrit and Hendrika Stegerman. He arrived in Canada in 1954, and immigrated to the United States of America in 1956.
He settled in the Chicago area, and was a member of the Chicago Carpenter Union Local 13. He owned and operated the Lazy Acres Motel in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. In 1973, he relocated to Greenfield, Ind., where he owned and operated the Howard Hughes Motor Lodge until retirement. Bert was blessed with many close Dutch and American friends. He was a devoted member of St. James Lutheran Church, where he was a member of the Men’s Bible Study Group. Bert was a man of great faith, which sustained him during the last 10 years of major health challenges. Bert loved to sing, fish, boat, and snowmobile.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Louise (Stygers); 3 children, Wendy (Neil) Carender, Todd Stegerman, and Eric Stegerman; 6 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; sister, Riek Willems; 4 sisters-in-law; 2 brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gerrit Jan Stegerman; and his nephew.
Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield. Extended visitation will also be held on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m.. until noon at St. James Lutheran Church in Greenfield. A Celebration of Life church service will follow at noon. Pastor Larry Gember will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Edelweiss Equestrian Center, 5214 South State Rd. 9, Greenfield, IN, 46140, or to the Mayo Clinic, Cardiovascular Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
