The Willow Glen Resident

Richard John Stegeman

Glen man was known for humor, stoicism

By Michelle Ku

If there was plumbing work to be done in Willow Glen during the 1940s and '50s, there was a good chance that Richard John Stegeman was involved.

Stegeman, 79, a plumber and early member of Saint Christopher Church in the days when the congregation met in a prune-packing shed, died in his home on Saturday, May 30.

A big sports fan, Stegeman died doing what he loved--watching a sports event. "He died watching a Giants game," said his daughter Wendy Stegeman. "He died in his chair with a smile. And the Giants won."

Stegeman had been having heart problems for close to 30 years, she said: "He was a miracle guy; they didn't know why he was still alive. He would always try experimental drugs to make sure he had quality [of life] and not just quantity."

A resident of Willow Glen since the early 1940s, Stegeman opened a plumbing business, Stegeman Plumbing, on Willow Street after World War II. His love for plumbing was passed on to his son, Richard J. Stegeman, and grandson Matthew Stegeman, 23. Matthew recently became a plumber's apprentice.

During the 1970s, Stegeman moved to Napa for business reasons. After living in Napa for 25 years, he moved back to the Glen in April.

"This is where he really lived. He never really left Willow Glen; just his body moved. He came back here because more of us were here. He wanted to retire near home and to be near his siblings and old friends," Wendy Stegeman said.

An active resident of San Jose, Stegeman was a member of the volunteer fire department in the 1930s and a longtime member of the Kiwanis and Elks clubs.

He was a Seabee, a member of the Navy's construction corps, during World War II in the Pacific Ocean. The Seabees were in charge of military construction. "He always said he built the landing strips so the Marines could come in and take the island," Wendy Stegeman said.

Stegeman was born in a home off 22nd Street in San Jose. Two of his surviving siblings, Hank and Margaret Stegeman, still live in the home they were born in.

Stegeman's family also described him as a devout Catholic with stoicism, a sense of family and a strong work ethic. He worked part time up until the week he moved back to Willow Glen, but he played as hard as he worked. He wouldn't pass up a good dirty joke or a glass of wine.

"The one thing about my dad was his absolutely unconditional love. No matter who you were or what you did, he loved you. If you had a fall from grace, he assumed it was an aberration," said Wendy Stegeman.

Stegeman is survived by his daughters Barbara Boucher of Willow Glen, Wendy L. Stegeman of Milpitas and Laurel Thurgood of Hercules; son Richard J. Stegeman of Dublin; sisters Mary Leach and Margaret Stegeman of San Jose; brothers Hank Stegeman of San Jose and William Stegeman of Oregon; and three grandchildren. He is also survived by Norma Buscaglia, his special friend for the last 14 years.

Stegeman's wife, Janet Renfrew Stegeman, died of a stroke in 1983.

A rosary and a viewing were held June 7 at the Willow Glen Mortuary, with a reception following at the Forest Glen Condominium Complex.

Memorial services were held June 8 at St. Christopher Church. Stegeman was buried in the old pioneer cemetery on Felton Grade where his wife is buried.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the YMCA Camp Campbell Campership Fund. Stegeman did a lot of the plumbing work at Camp Campbell and did magic shows there.

"He was a hard-working, hard-playing, loving, giving man who never passed up the chance to say something nice or to give you a pat," said Stegeman of her father. "He didn't always say, 'I love you.' He showed you he loved you."

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