Robert Max Stemmler

Robert Max Stemmler (Bob), passed away on November 27 of 2022 in Santa Ana, California, just a week after celebrating his 87th birthday with his wife and his adult children and their families.

Bob was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, to Eleonora Jaeger and Frederick Max Stemmler. He was the youngest of three and the home he grew up in was right next door to his maternal grandparents where a number of his aunts and uncles also lived. There were many fond memories and colorful tales about these growing up years with his large extended family. Bob was a somewhat mischievous and daredevil kid and loved to tell the stories of his childhood escapades to his children and grandchildren. A small sampling of his anecdotal titles could be: The Time I was Hit by a Bus, How I Burned Down my Grandfather’s Garage, and Once I Shot my Neighbor with my BB gun as he was Sitting on his Toilet! Needless to say, “Bobby” was often in trouble at home and yet he was a smart guy. So smart that he skipped a grade in elementary school and he was also a talented tap-dancer, and yo-yo champion!

After graduating from high school, Bob attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri while also participating in the ROTC program. He joined the Theta Xi fraternity and was elected president during his junior year, and also participated in numerous intramural sports, including swim team, wrestling, and baseball – for which he was the team manager. Bob often reminisced about his college years living in the fraternity house and told many entertaining “snippets” about that period of his life. In 1957 Bob married the love of his life – Susan Koffron, who he met on a blind date. They started a family in 1958 with the birth of their first daughter Melissa, and Bob graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Also in 1958 they moved to Chicago where Bob began his career at Sunbean. Their first son Karl was born in 1959. During these years Bob was a member of the Air Force Reserve from which he was honorably discharged in 1961. The family relocated to Westfield, NJ in 1962 when Bob joined Celanese Corporation. He enjoyed 20 years in management there; including positions in product management, sales, marketing, and acquisitions. During this time he also obtained his M.B.A. at Seton Hall University, and expanded his family with another daughter, Elle in 1969, and two more sons, Kurt in 1963 and James in 1971. When his sons were young he coached their wrestling teams, and also participated in the Indian Guides youth group with them. He tutored all his kids in math through the years – almost daily (seems like), and still managed to find time for many do-it-yourself home improvement projects. He was a true “jack of all trades” and could fix just about anything.

In 1978 Celanese transferred Bob to Orange County California and he became General Manager of Narmco Materials in Costa Mesa. He left that position in 1983 to work for A.J. Industries, a mini-conglomerate of companies where he held various positions including President and CEO of Impco Technologies, which Forbes magazine recognized in 1998 as being among the 200 best managed small companies in the U.S.

While Bob was very proud of his career achievements, and sometimes seemed to “live for work”, when he retired in 2007 he soon found new passions. He became obsessed over golfing with friends and family – an activity that truly brought him joy. He also took up gardening in earnest – a quest for the best tomatoes, and he enrolled in adult classes at the local community college where he learned computer skills and quickly mastered excel spreadsheets. He and Sue enjoyed discovering local restaurants and doted on their 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Bob was exceedingly proud and delighted by their wide-ranging interests and accomplishments.

In his last few years, as he experienced various health problems, Bob always remained optimistic and never complained. He adapted to whatever limitations were presented and made the most of his time. He was literally always ready to go anywhere and do anything. Nearly everyone he spent time with remembers him as being always kind and good natured. He made friends everywhere he went. Bob was a true lover of life, full of generosity, good humor, and curiosity. He never stopped learning and never tired of spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sue, his daughter Melissa (Phil), his son Karl and his son Kurt (Jessica), his sister Jacqueline Adams of Rochester NY, his grandchildren Ryan, Alex, Erik, Ross, and Miles Giffin, Harrison, Garrett, Reid, Marjorie and Jordyn Stemmler, and his great-grandchildren Alyze, Shay, Calen, Mason, and Elle Giffin, along with many nieces, nephews, and in-laws. He is predeceased by his daughter Elle, his son James, and his brother Richard.

Bob-Dad-Grandpa-Pop-pop will be remembered as truly one of a kind. He is loved, honored, and missed beyond measure.

A service and burial was held on December 5, at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, California. A Celebration of Life will be hosted by the family in the coming spring. Details will be posted on the Dignity Memorial website as they become available. (Dignitymemorial.com)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Stemmler family.

If you would like to view Robert's services, please join us on Monday, December 5, 2022 from 12-1pm at the following link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY2OTk1OTE2NzIyMjMxMCZvbmVyb29tLWVtYWlsJmludml0YXRpb25fY29weV9saW5r

For flower order placements, feel free to call the Fairhaven Flower Shop at (714) 922-2924.