Stolte

Steven Preston Stolte, 59, a lifelong resident of Thorndale, died at his home in Thorndale surrounded by family on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021.

Services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Pastor Casey Goetz of Tanglewood Baptist Church officiating.

Interment followed at Pleasant Retreat Cemetery near Thorndale.

Mr. Stolte was born Dec. 9, 1962, in Taylor to Preston Stolte and Agnes Virginia (Catchings) Stolte.

He was a 1981 graduate of Thorndale High School and began working at the Rockdale power plant until he left there as a foreman. He most recently worked as Power Plant Operator for LCRA in Bastrop.

Outside of family, he enjoyed working his cattle and tending to his garden.

A lover of animals, Mr. Stolte was known for taking in and caring for any lost cat or dog lucky enough to cross his path.

A genius with his hands, a self-taught engineer and small engine repairman, he could fix anything he set his mind to.

Mr. Stolte was preceded in death by his father, Preston Fritz Stolte; his paternal grandparents, Emil August and Theresia Stolte; and his maternal grandparents, Agnes and Roy Robert Catchings.

Survivors are his wife, Deborah Stolte of Thorndale; three sons, Steven Preston Stolte Il of San Antonio, Henry “Hank” Garrett Stolte of Thorndale, Andrew August Stolte of College Station; a daughter, Brittney Ann Lerbakken and husband Dave of Kearney, Nebraska; his mother, Virginia Stolte of Thorndale; a sister, Theresia Goetz and husband David of Thorndale; and a granddaughter, Brooke Austyn Lerbakken.

Pallbearers were David Goetz, Ernest Henry, David Henry, Stanley Henry, Malcom Holder, William Smith, Kelly Rieger and Bryan Woelfel.