Robert James Stevens' Obituary
Robert James Stevens
March 5, 1930 to September 11, 2020
Robert James Stevens, 90 years old, passed away on September 11, 2020, while living at The Meadows Senior Living Community in Elk Grove, California. He had been under Hospice Care over the past year and his son Larry was at his side when he took his last breath and passed peacefully into eternity. Robert (Bob) was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to parents Walter James (St. Germaine) Stevens and Fern Ida (Morrell) Stevens.
The family’s true surname and ancestry is St. Germaine, not Stevens. Bob’s father was born Walter James St. Germaine. When Walter was 2 years old, his mother Barbara (Cipra) St. Germaine died of tuberculosis and his father, Joseph St. Germaine, was unable to raise him. His mother’s sister, Mary, and her husband, Elmo Stevens, raised Walter as their own and changed his surname to Stevens.
Bob grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and had many adventures as a young boy with his family and friends. Along with visiting his great-grandparent’s two farms in Iowa, hunting pheasant and fishing with his dad, brothers, and cousins, he would spend part of his summers in Pryor, Montana, with his Great Aunt Lou and Great Uncle Ed Burger, exploring the Montana countryside and learning to appreciate the Indian culture. His Great Uncle Ed was a cowboy and trick roper and toured the world for eight years with the Buffalo Bill Show. Because of Bob’s love for animals, his grandfather bought him a pinto pony that only he could ride. Her name was Queenie.
Bob loved airplanes and the field of aviation. He would skip school during his high school years to take flying lessons without his parent’s permission. Instead of flying in the sky, he decided to take up boat racing and fly atop water in a runabout at 15 years old with the help and support of his parents. During his high school years Bob worked several part-time jobs—one in a boat shop and another cleaning beautiful rugs in an Oriental rug store.
Then, in February 1948 at the age of 17 years old, Bob dropped out of school in the 11th grade and joined the Navy. He served aboard the USS Estes, Flagship for Naval Forces, Western Pacific; and spent time in China and Occupied Japan, working as a cook aboard the USS Estes, for Naval Officers. While he was stationed at Hunters Point, San Francisco, he met and married Willis Adeline Lewerenz on June 2, 1951. That same year their son Larry was born in December. In January 1952, Bob was Honorably Discharged from the Navy as a Korean War Veteran. Bob, together with his wife Willis and their son Larry, returned to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, where twin daughters, Pamela and Darlene, and daughter Mary were born. Back home in Omaha, while living with family, Bob worked in a gas station doing auto mechanic work. He was then offered a job with a bus company in an apprentice-training program as a diesel mechanic. Through the years, Bob enjoyed getting together with family for holidays, winter outings, and summer picnics.
From 1955 to 1958, Bob chose back his hobby and love for boat racing and took his young family on many adventures. As a young girl, Pamela remembers one time at a boat race in Yankton, South Dakota, her mom said, “Dad needs to win the race so we have the money to get back home to Omaha.” Bob loved to take the family on a drive in the car and they never knew where they would end up and, by chance, might get an ice cream. He loved to keep them in suspense.
In 1965 Bob and Willis returned to California where they settled in San Mateo. Larry approached his dad about getting back together into boat racing as a hobby. They both raced different classes of boats (D & B Stock Outboard Hydro’s and Runabout’s) from 1966 to 1973. In 1969 Bob was the Divisional Champion of the West Coast in D Stock Hydro and had an automatic spot in the National’s back in West Virginia. The family drove across the country from California to West Virginia on another adventure together. While racing boats all those years, Bob never learned to swim, but relied on his life jacket to save him.
Bob was a Journeyman Diesel Mechanic for 44 years on trucks and buses until his retirement from SamTrans in 1995.
He is survived by son Larry Stevens (Valerie); daughters Pamela Tellez (Joseph), Darlene Stevens, Mary Stevens; brothers Richard Stevens (Joyce), Walter Stevens (Mary Ann); grandsons Jason Tellez (Janelle), Brandon Tellez (Amber), Derrick Stevens (Ashley), Ryan Stevens (Chad); granddaughter Christina Davis (Cody); step-grandchildren Bonnie Headley (Jim), Lindsey Nowlin (Jeremy), Kelli Conner (Jason); 10 great-grandchildren and 8 step-great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Paul Lewerenz, Jerome Lewerenz (Marie), John Bear; and nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Willis Adeline (Lewerenz) Stevens; his parents, Walter and Fern Stevens; daughter-in-law Carolyn Stevens; brother-in-law Clifton Lewerenz, and sister-in-law Bonnie Lewerenz.
Bob was a complex and interesting man to anyone who knew him. Along with numerous interests he was a collector of many things, such as cars, tools, books, guns, coins, models, and diverse artifacts. His dry since of humor was not always understood and he could bend your ear for hours on many subjects. Wonder who he is talking to now! Hopefully Bob is teasing his wife Willis like he loved to do. Bob was loved by family and friends and will be missed.
A Memorial Service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park, October 9, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at Hwy 92 at Skyline Blvd., San Mateo, California.
Remembrances can be made in Bob’s honor to a charity of your choice.
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