Like the beautiful West Texas sun, William H. "Bill" Stege's light has set into the horizon.

He was born in Wimberley, Texas on January 19, 1938 to Otto and Rose Stege, and grew up in San Marcos. Bill was raised as "Prince William" being his sister Yvonne's junior by nine years. He missed the tying free throw in the state championship basketball game in high school then went on to graduate from Southwest Texas State College in 1962, majoring in History and Journalism. Growing up, he got to know legendary Red Sox pitcher Tex Hughson, and NBA all-star Lucious Jackson who would hide his car in the garage to play pick-up basketball with Bill and his friends.

He was a glass bottom boat driver at Aquarena Springs in college where he mistakenly thought Yul Brynner and Ava Gardner were common folk. His many adventures included helping stop a robbery by cutting off the thieves' car with his own, driving a friend's Lincoln from Wimberley to San Marcos without using a road, careening through fields and pastures, and also pushing a bed from San Marcos to Houston (which was a thing in the 50's) with his fraternity brothers - they might have been the inspiration for the movie Animal House!

After graduation, he served in the US Army reserves as a field artillery specialist. Then for the remainder of his life until retirement Bill worked in sales, for Sysco Foods, White Swan, and Ben E. Keith. As a salesman, he could sell used toothbrushes or ice to Eskimos, such were his powers of persuasion.

It was while working for Sysco he met Emilie, the love of his life. They married in June of 1971, this bachelor of 33 years and Emilie with her three children, becoming a dad overnight! They had their fourth child, Roberta, in 1972, to complete their family.

He loved driving across the country, running around Castroville, and going antique shopping with Emilie. They had so much fun traveling and so many adventures. The family traveled for weeks every summer, seeing much of the country and historical landmarks, from Yellowstone to Lake Louise, Victoria, Canada, to the Sequoias in California and Washington DC, as well as the great state of Texas which he loved.

He was an avid collector of breweriana, specializing in Lone Star, Pearl, and Grand Prize items. He would walk into a beer joint in any small Texas town and leave with a beer sign and a new friend.

He was a man with a strong heart, an enduring optimism, and a razor-sharp wit. He never met a stranger and lived to entertain and share his stories and humor. He loved people and could make a friend anywhere. He had a fine group of local friends and many childhood friendships lasting 70 years or longer.

Through the years he was involved in the community and a member in the Chamber of Commerce. He helped organize the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, volunteered at St. Louis Day, oversaw the Alsatian dancing, while working the Folklife Festival for many years, and helped start Castroville's Old-Fashioned Christmas.

Our family would like to send our deepest appreciation to his friends and caregivers for all of your help and love, you gave him much comfort and happiness. We also give thanks to the community who loved him, listened to him, and laughed with him. He loved his life and felt he was a very blessed man, believing that he was lucky to have lived during the best of times.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Emilie, by just a short time, and his sister, Yvonne Hawley.

He is survived by his four children, Darla Stege (Doug), Tiffany DeAtley (Dean), and Joseph Carpenter Jr. (Lisa), and Roberta Stege, as well as his grandchildren, Shayla Glover, Joshua Tant, Marissa Hall, Tessa DeAtley, Emma DeAtley, Jackson DeAtley, Joseph Carpenter III, Travis Carpenter, and great-grandchild Isabel Glover, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was well loved and will be missed by many.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1106 Fiorella Street, Castroville. A bereavement meal will follow the memorial service.

Memorials may be made in Bill's memory to the Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondre-guinn.com