John E. Stigge, Sr.

WASHINGTON – John E. Stigge, Sr., 88, passed away Friday, January 4, 2008, at the Washington County Hospital in Washington, KS. A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 08, 2008, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, southwest of Greenleaf, KS. Pastor David Gruoner officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Gina Miller played the organ while Erin Toole sang, “The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want”. The congregation sang “The Strife is O’er, The Battle Done” and “Jerusalem the Golden”. Pallbearers were Ian Stigge, Ryan Ohlde, Larry Stigge, Peter Stigge, Randy Tenbrink, Alan Stigge, and Dennis Stigge. John was born near Barnes, KS on October 8, 1919, the son of Fred and his wife Ida (Bolle) Stigge. On December 21, 1919, Rev. G.W. Ruhl at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church baptized John. When John was 10 years old, his father and mother moved the family west of Washington, where John attended rural public school. As he approached confirmation age, John moved back with relatives at Barnes so that he might receive his confirmation instruction. In 1934 John confirmed his baptismal vows of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in the rite of confirmation under the Rev. L.W. Temme. In March of 1941, John was drafted into the United States Army, and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor served his country with distinction in the Aleutian Island Theater of operation, winning a Bronze Star. On June 30, 1946, John was united in marriage to Loretta Niemann at Trinity Lutheran Church near Hanover. Their union was blessed with four children, John, Orvill, Carolyn, and Steven. The family made Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Greenleaf, their home congregation, where John served as elder and was a member of the Men's Club. John was a farmer and stockman at heart and worked hard at it all his life. He also served the Washington community as a past member of the School Board. Jon also enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, and trapping. His greatest joy, however, was in spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two children, Carolyn in 1986, and Orvill in 1998; five brothers, Lawrence, Otto, Leo, Marvin and Orville; and two sisters Agnes Kasperek and Luella Shum. Survivors include his wife, Loretta of the home; two sons, John Stigge and his wife Kathryn, and Steven Stigge, all of Washington, KS; son-in-law, Gene Helms of Linn, KS, ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Ivalo Bisping, of Alma, KS; sister-in-laws, Mildred Stigge, Florence McGrath, Marie Mishey, Leona Wiechman and her husband Albert, Selma Kolle and her husband Raymond, Norma Haley and her husband Robert, Verla Harrison and her husband Bud; and brother-in-law, Walter Niemann. A memorial fund has been established and contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John E. Stigge, Sr., please visit our flower store.