Herman William Stehmeier

Herman William Stehmeier was called home by the Lord on November 29, 2023.  Herman was born in Charleston, SC on April 17, 1929, and lived there his entire life. He was the son of the late Martha Shokes Stehmeier and Hermann Stehmeier, both of Charleston.  Herman will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  He was a beloved husband, brother, father, uncle and grandfather.  

He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn Smith “Sugah” Stehmeier, a son-in-law Dr. Bo Kimsey, and a grandson Chas Thomason.  He is survived by two sisters: Betty Stehmeier Debnam (George Debnam) of Mt. Pleasant and Shirley Stehmeier Winter of Wilmington, NC; three children: Kathie Kimsey of Duluth, GA, Cheree Thomason (Dr. Mack Thomason) of Greenville, and Bubba Stehmeier of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren: Faithe Kimsey, McKee Thomason, Katie Thomason, Summer Stehmeier, Kimi Stehmeier, and Taylor Stehmeier.  We are comforted by knowing that Herman has now joined his wife Marilyn as well as other family and friends in heaven.

Herman honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was a lifelong member of St. Johannes Lutheran Church, where he enjoyed ushering and leading tours of the Church he loved.  He worked for Westvaco Paper Company for 37 years, where as a supervisor he enjoyed helping and mentoring his fellow workers.  He was a past Master in the Masons Washington Lodge No. 5, a past President of the South Atlantic Shrine Association and a past President of the Omar Shrine Temple Greeters group. He was also a member of the Deutscher Bruderlicher Bund of Charleston.He and Marilyn always enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their home on Johns Island, where they would frequently host cook-outs.  Herman enjoyed boating, fishing, crabbing, as well as working on various large projects which he would refer to as just another “five minute job”.  A number of these jobs would be completed in one of his favorite spots, the red barn he built in back of their home on Johns Island.  Herman was a talented wood worker, welder, mechanic, and handyman.  While he will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday December 8, 2023, at St. Johannes Lutheran Church, 48 Hasell Street, at 11:30 a.m.  The family will receive friends Friday, at the J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, 232 Calhoun Street, from 10:00-11:00 a.m.  Interment, Bethany Cemetery.  

Memorials may be made to St. Johannes Lutheran Church, PO Box 31927, Charleston, SC 29413.