Jerry E. Stegmann

On December 18th, after years of battling cancer, Jerry Eugene Stegmann left his family and many friends at the age of 65. Since December 18th was his dad’s birthday in heaven, we truly believe his Dad came to take him home.

Jerry, aka “Thunder”, was born September 12th, 1957, and was a fun loving man. He had a quick comical comeback for most happenings, and always kept us laughing!  He loved people and will be missed by so many friends, kids he coached in volleyball, people he knew through Uncle Lars and his many years at Pepsi and Triple S. He even became a “Big Brother” to a young gentleman, Shane Hoagland, that he took under his wing and was like a father to him. 

He had a group of great guy friends that meant the world to him and the stories are endless of all the good times they had. They golfed, and cheered on the Cubs, the Bears, and the Bulls with great gusto!  

It was his family that meant the most to him. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and always put family first. Rarely did he miss any events his children or grandchildren took part in from plays to sporting events, birthday parties and all their special moments. He especially enjoyed family vacations that became a yearly event.

Jerry and his wife Selaine would have celebrated their 42nd anniversary in February, and she was the love of his life!  They made it through the ups and downs of raising children, running businesses, and then all the years of fighting cancer. Through it all they were dedicated to each other until the very end.

Jerry is survived by his wife Selaine, daughter Selynda (Ryder)Kern and their three children Madison, Connor and Liam, Daughter Shauna(Chad) Barding and three boys Eli, Austin and Owen, and daughter Sandy(Cole) Henert, and their two children Cooper and Sawyer. He also had many brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws that he loved dearly. 

Jerry has a sister, Joyce (Mike) Diveley, and a brother Jim(Sheila), many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews on both sides of his family tree. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Mary Jane Stegmann, his paternal grandparents, Carl and Catherine Stegmann, his maternal grandparents, Theodore and Olive Lucille Landgraf, and his best friend Ronnie.

In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Jerry’s name to the DeKalb chapter of “Big Brothers, Big Sisters”, now known as “Home-Family Service Agency of DeKalb County. fsadekalbcounty.org 

A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 31 from 9-12, with a memorial service at 12:00 at the The Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry Street, Sandwich Illinois. Jerry would love it if you would wear your favorite Cubs, Bears, Bulls or Sandwich or Vision Volleyball attire. 

The family would like to invite friends for a luncheon following the service at Lee’z Place, 2738 N. 48th Rd., Sandwich, Ill.  We will tell stories, laugh and toast “Thunder” who really lived life to the fullest!