Deborah Gurtner Stein, a caring wife, mother and grandmother, transitioned December 30, 2021 at the age of 69, after a 6-year battle with dementia, just six days shy of her 70th birthday. Despite the challenges she faced in the final years, her kind heart and selfless spirit continued to shine through as she met many of her days with a smile, and still looked for opportunities to encourage or serve others.
Deborah was born on January 5, 1952 in Brownstown, Illinois, and after earning her Bachelor’s degree at Eastern Illinois University, moved to Texas, later completing her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Houston. She dedicated over 35 years of her life helping thousands of children across the state of Texas. Her dedicated work through Lutheran Social Services in Corpus Christi, as well as for Child Protective Services across Brownsville, Fort Bend County, Corpus Christi, and Kerrville, Texas aided many children in finding loving homes and a better life. Her family recounts the many sleepless nights Deborah stayed up working on an emergency placement for a child, or the countless miles traveled — sometimes across the country — to assist children to their new homes. And it wasn’t uncommon, years later, that families would recognize Deborah in passing, and stop her to and say thanks, expressing how much she had changed their lives.
After retiring from social work, Deborah earned her real estate license and worked for several years as a realtor at Group One Real Estate in Corpus Christi, delighted by the opportunity to be able to help her son and daughter-in-law purchase their first home.
Deborah loved orchids, a good mystery novel, and, of course, babies. Her granddaughters lit up her spirit, and she treasured them immensely until the end.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Bill; her children, Jared William Stein (wife, Holly) and Jessica “Meredith” Stein Nguyen (husband, Henry); beautiful granddaughters, Emily and Harper Stein and a future grandson, due April 2022; her sister, Barbara Gurtner (husband, Jim Gunnin) and brother, Glenn Gurtner (wife, Pamela); step-brothers Mike Brunk (wife, Sakina) and Mark Brunk (wife, Paula) and step-sister Chris DeShazo (husband, Phil); sisters-in-law Pat Keller (husband, Evert) and Annette Guerra (husband, Joel), and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd Gurtner and Edith Bowman Gurtner, and step-mother Enid Pontious Brunk Gurtner. The family thanks the nurses and staff at Villa of Corpus Christi South for the love and support they gave to Deborah over the last year. Her family will honor her legacy by continuing to serve others as Deborah did, and by living life to the fullest.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 8th from 2-5 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel-Everhart, 4901 Everhart Rd., Corpus Christi, Texas with a memorial service to follow in Brownstown, Illinois, to be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Deborah Stein's name to Driscoll Children's Hospital.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CageMillsFuneralDirectors.com for the Stein family.
