Robert August Stelter, 93, of Hopkins, Missouri, died Friday, September 8, 2017, in Maryville, Missouri. Robert was born on September 25, 1923, to Louis August Stelter and Ella Grace Pettigrew Stelter of Maryville, Missouri.
After graduating from Maryville High School in 1941, Robert enrolled in the Navy’s pre-enlistment program at Northwest Missouri State College. He graduated from the United States Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School in Chicago. He served in the Pacific on a Landing Craft Infantry ship during World War II. Upon returning from the service, Robert attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1947. He met his future wife, Ruth Sorenson, at Iowa State. They were married in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on September 15, 1951. They enjoyed almost 66 years of married life together.
After their wedding, Robert and Ruth moved to Hopkins, where together they ran the family farm. Robert was a lifetime farmer who valued farm conservation and took pride in improving his land. He was also an avid traveler and enjoyed learning about the history, farming practices, and political systems of countries around the globe. His favorite activity was enjoying Ruth’s good home-cooked meals and spending hours at the dinner table talking about current events, farming, and politics with his family.
Robert was a member of the Wray Memorial United Methodist Church in Hopkins and served on the North Nodaway School Board. To honor his grandfather and his parents, Robert founded two scholarships, the August Stelter Scholarship Fund at Northwest Missouri State University and the Louis and Grace Stelter Scholarship Fund at Maryville R-II High School.
Robert is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his five children: Nancy (Jim) Johnston, Houston, Texas; Susan (Sam) Fernandez, Manhattan Beach, California; Linda Stelter, Pella, Iowa; Steve (Kelly) Stelter, Maryville, Missouri; and Mark (Jenni) Stelter, Pella, Iowa. Robert is also survived by nine grandchildren: Jennifer (Matthew) Pierson, Kristina (Cameron) Fernandez Mabrie, Michael Fernandez, Siri Stelter, Alex Stelter, Madison Stelter, Laurel Stelter, Soren Stelter, and Easton Stelter, and by two great-grandchildren: Evangeline Pierson and Beckett Pierson.
Visitation will be held at Wray Memorial United Methodist Church in Hopkins on Wednesday, September 13, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the Wray Memorial United Methodist Church in Hopkins on Thursday, September 14, at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Miriam Cemetery in Maryville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Northwest Foundation, directed to the August Stelter Scholarship Fund, 800 University Drive, Maryville, Missouri, 64468.
www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com
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