Marjorie Spess Stegemeier

MARJORIE SPESS STEGEMEIER, died peacefully on Wednesday the 16th of February at her home in Anaheim, California. Daughter of James and Lily Spess, Marge was born on Sept. 15th, 1933 in Mannford, Oklahoma. She grew up with her sisters Ruth, Rebecca (deceased), Ramona and Emma. Following graduation from high school in Tulsa, she married Richard J. Stegemeier of Wood River, Illinois in 1952. In the following years Marge and Dick were blessed with four children, Rick Stegemeier, Dave Stegemeier, Laura Whited and Martha Tesh. She is also survived by nine grandchildren. Marge enjoyed life throughout the world, establishing loving homes for her family in California, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Faithful to the virtues of an Oklahoma farm girl, she treated all with kindness, generosity, a warm smile and a quick wit. While raising a family, Marge also devoted her life in support of her husbands notable career, ultimately charming many with her grace and compassion as the first lady of Unocal. For her beloved children and devoted husband, she will forever be our first lady. A Rosary Service in Marges memory will be held at the McAulay & Wallace Mortuary in Yorba Linda at 7pm on Friday, Feb. 25. The Requiem Mass will be held at the San Antonio de Padua Church in Anaheim at 10am on Saturday, Feb. 26, followed by interment at the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange. Memorial gifts can be made to the Littlest Angel Guild of Childrens Hospital of Orange, where Marge served as a volunteer, or the St. Jude Hospital in Orange, which provided outstanding care during her lengthy illness.