Rex Sheathelm

Rex and Stephanie Sheathelm were seemingly two souls cut from the same cloth with their shared insatiable zest for life and adventurous spirits. To both Rex and Stephanie, life was not about the pursuit of material wealth nor the drive for the seemingly elusive need to succeed, but it was about the love of family, the family that became of their love story which spanned nearly 70 years. Faith was the point of reference they used to frame their every thought, every word, and every deed, and it is this legacy of faith and love that will surely withstand the passage of time. The decade of the 1910s was a time of great change within our nation, as this decade included the difficulties of labor unions and unsafe working conditions, the emergence of America as a super power with the end of WWI, and as the decade drew to a close, the beginning of the prosperity that would sustain us for the next decade. William and Della (Sheets) Sheathelm of Lansing, Michigan were preparing for a change within their own family as well, as they were anticipating the arrival of their fourth child at any time. They were indeed blessed on January 19, 1912 with the healthy birth of their son, Rex Benjamin. As one of what would become eight children in the Sheathelm family, Rex grew up in the family home in Lansing where he was cared for by his mother who was a homemaker, while his father worked for the Lansing Company. For a time, Rex and Russ lived with his Uncle Henry while his mother and sister were experiencing health problems. As a student, Rex attended Pattengill Junior High and then Lansing Eastern High School where he participated in tennis, basketball, and track. As was common for many young people growing up during the twenties and thirties, Rex established a strong work ethic as he had a paper route that he and his brothers had shared for 15 successive years. When he was just 15, he met a man named Walt Moesner who was a director at the Lansing YMCA and this introduction led Rex to Camp Pendalouan in Muskegon where he would work for 10 summers. Upon his graduation from high school, Rex went on to graduate from Western Michigan University and with his degree in hand, he took a teaching position in Delton, Michigan for two years. His friend Walt again gave him the inside scoop on a job opportunity; this time the position was in the Muskegon Public Schools. Rex did indeed apply for and receive the position teaching printing in the school system, leaving him to relocate to the Muskegon area. During this time in his life, Rex established lifelong friendships with Jack Lundgren, Art Workman, and Pete Klemp, with whom he enjoyed playing sports throughout his entire lifetime. Also during the monumental decade of the 1910s, another family was eagerly anticipating the birth of a baby, but for Josef and Maria (Gawat) Kufta, of Muskegon, Michigan, it was their sixth child. On October 25, 1918, they were thrilled with the arrival of their precious daughter, Stephanie Victoria. Stephanie, who was later joined by one additional sibling, grew up in a Polish family and was raised within the Catholic faith, attending St. Michaels Catholic Church and Catholic schools for a time, but she transferred to the Muskegon public schools for both junior and senior high. Stephanie was a talented athlete who played softball and basketball for her high school and was awarded the Marsh Athletic Cup for Girls. As a young girl, Stephanie also loved ice skating, tennis, and going to the Lake Michigan shoreline, even walking to the beach from her home at times. Like Rex, Stephanie also established a strong work ethic during her formative years, and she found employment in the office at the Brunswick Corporation where she would work until after WWII. Staying true to their athletic natures, Rex and Stephanie met while playing tennis at Pioneer Park in 1938. It didnt take long before the two began dating and fell in love. The couple soon planned to marry, and Stephanies mom made all the dresses for the wedding. On September 2, 1939, Rex and Stephanie were united in marriage at Central Methodist Church, and although her father wasnt present for the ceremony, he was part of the reception. Rex introduced Stephanie to snow skiing, a passion that not only connected them, but that they would also share with their future generations. Rex and Stephanie also enjoyed archery, tennis, swimming, golfing with other couples, and dancing in various locations around town as well. Although neither served in the military during WWII, they did support the war effort on the home front. Rex worked at Bennet Pump Print Shop in addition to his teaching position and Stephanie helped out as a nurses aide at the hospital. The war hit home for both of them as Rex lost his brother Glenn and several other friends from Camp Pendalouan as well. The young couple eventually decided to build a home in the Glenside neighborhood, and they both helped with the construction and painting. This home would soon accommodate their changing family which grew to include Glenn in 1946 and Carmen, in 1949. They were both elated to become parents, and Stephanie immediately immersed herself into caring for the needs of her children as she left the work force to stay home to provide for their needs. Family was always of the utmost importance to them both which included memorable holiday gatherings with extended family as well. Rex continued to plan for his familys future when he earned his masters degree from the University of Michigan. Stephanie was active in the lives of her children, organizing carpools, serving on the PTA, and was a brownie troop leader too. Both Sheathelm children inherited their parents spirit of adventure which included a passion for skiing and swimming too. Their children were on the slopes nearly every weekend and Rex loved taking them swimming at the Teachers Club on Lake Michigan. Rex always declared his amazement that everyone managed to survive the huge waves there! Extra money that Rex was able to earn funded summer camping trips and winter trips to Caberfae or Big M. In the 1960s, their family took ski trips out to Aspen, Colorado and they were also able to make precious memories while they stayed at a rustic cabin that Rex supervised during its construction. When their children were grown, Rex and Stephanie enjoyed a whole new world of adventure without the everyday care of children. They traveled around the world to places like Poland to visit relatives, to the Mediterranean, and the Holy Lands as well. After Rex retired, they bought a Ford pickup and a camper dubbed Grandmas Little House, that took them all over the country, including Alaska. They both continued playing tennis and even won the seniors mixed doubles championships in 1969 and 1970, and they continued skiing well into their eighties as well. When their legacy came to include grandchildren, that meant there was more love for Rex and Stephanie to give, and that they did. They spent as much time with their grandchildren Alissa and Matt as they could, gaining joy and contentment from just being with them. There were interests and traits that were unique to Rex and that made him the one-of-a-kind man that his family and friends knew and loved. His passion was participating in sports and it was his true gift as well. He placed 4th in the National NASTAR Competition in Snowmass, Colorado in 1987, and he placed 2nd in the National Senior Olympics 200 yard freestyle swimming event in Myrtle Beach in 2003. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church with Stephanie and was also a member of the Old Newsboys, Muskegon Town Club, YMCA Mens Club, Sports Sages, Muskegon Retired Teachers, Pendalouan Camp Committee, Muskegon Graphics Art Society, and the Muskegon Heritage Association as well. Stephanie was also a unique individual with an array of passions and interests. She was a member of PEO, the Cherry Guild, and Hackley Circle. Stephanie loved nature and saw God within all of creation whether she was enjoying a beautiful sunset, the fall colors, the splendor of the mountains, or simply the beauty of her garden. By the year 2000, both Rex and Stephanie started to slow down a bit and they sold their camper. In 2004, Rex broke his hip while skiing which brought their sports endeavors to an end, except for a few golf outings with friends. Stephanie also suffered a broken pelvis but together, they still enjoyed their family, fish fries at the VFW, and continued to be members of First Presbyterian Church where they had been faithfully attending since their children were young. In 2009, both Rex and Stephanie began to experience a rapid decline in their health, and they were blessed to enjoy one final family dinner together on Palm Sunday. On April 10, Stephanie told each of her children, I love you, and then drew her last breath. During the next five days, Rex was thrilled to meet his great-granddaughter Cate amidst his own failing health. His granddaughter shared with him that she was going back to Colorado to which Rex responded, Ski a run for me. Whether they were skiing the slopes of Colorado, enjoying fellowship with their church family, or drinking in the magnificent scenery of America and foreign countries, Rex and Stephanie Sheathelm embraced each moment they were given. It was no secret that they were true partners in life and now in death as well. Amidst a life full of adventures and accomplishments, they viewed their family as their greatest accomplishment and treasured each memory they created together. They spent their entire lives creating precious memories that will be forever etched on the hearts of all those they leave behind. They will be dearly missed. Stephanie K. Sheathelm died Saturday, April 11, 2009. Rex B. Sheathelm died Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Rex and Stephanie are survived by their son, Glenn Sheathelm of Muskegon; daughter, Carmen (Leon) Albiniak of Hudsonville; 2 grandchildren, Alissa and Nick Stevens of Arvada, Colorado, & Matthew L. Albiniak of St. Paul, Minnesota; 1 great granddaughter, Catherine "Cate" Stevens & several nieces & nephews. Stephanie was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Helen (Joseph) Hecker & Casmira (Marcus) Mierle; 4 brothers, Walter (Nita) Kufta, Julius (Maxine) Kufta, Bronish Kufta & Henry Kufta. Rex was preceded in death by his brothers: Clifford, Russell, Wayne; sister, Mildred. Survived by younger sister Betty (Henning) and brother Laurence Pete. A joint service will be held for Rex and his wife Stephanie at First Presbyterian Church in Muskegon on Saturday, May 2, 2009, 11:00 a.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory, sign the online guest book, or make a memorial contribution to First Presbyterian Church or Muskegon YMCA.