John Robert Stermer

Funeral Services for John Robert Stermer, 75, Arapaho resident, will be held 9:30 A.M. Wednesday, May 8, 2019 in the Church of Christ, 2601 Custer Ave., Clinton, OK, officiated by Patrick Peters. Burial will follow in the Arapaho Cemetery under the direction Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. John Robert Stermer was born February 5, 1944 to John F. and Jessie (Tackett) Stermer in Elk City, Oklahoma and passed away Thursday, May 2, 2019 in the Alliance Clinton Emergency Room in Clinton, Oklahoma. John Robert was raised in Arapaho, Oklahoma and lived with his grandparents, Robert and Emma Stermer. He attended Arapaho Schools and graduated from Arapaho High School in 1962. He married Gail Berry on November 3, 1962 in Clinton. He continued his education at the Oklahoma School of Bankers in Oklahoma City and then following up with IBM School. He was employed at the First National Bank in Mid West City. He returned to Arapaho and was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and served a stint in Viet Nam. He was honorably discharged in the lateral part of 1967 and returned to Custer County. He and his wife Gail made their home in Arapaho. In 1970 he was helping Jimmy Hughes round up cattle; he was involved in a horrific accident while riding his horse causing him to be totally disabled for over a year. He went on to operate the cabinet shop and the rock shop in Arapaho. He was then employed as a Rural Mail Carrier and retired after 15 years in 2009. Soon after retirement he loved being outdoors and he worked at the Tornado Car Wash with Aaron Sauer. He was a faithful and active member of the Church of Christ, he enjoyed collecting, cooking, spending time with his grandchildren, watching western movies, he was an excellent fisherman, watching Fox News and arguing politics. He was preceded in death by his grandparents that raised him, his mother and dad, and a sister, Johnette Quintana. He is survived by his wife, Gail, of the home, son, Lane Stermer and wife, Jill, of Phoenix, AZ; daughter, Shona Stermer, Arapaho and brother, Steve Stermer and his wife, Janie, Clinton and his favorite sister in law, Kathy Heard, Clinton. He also survived by three grandchildren, Callie Stermer and Clent Stermer, both of Phoenix, AZ and Lexy Stermer, Arapaho and two adopted families, Monte, Dana Kent and family, Elk City and Harvey, Karen Cabaniss and family, Arapaho. The family has suggested those wanting to give a memorial contribution may do so to the Custer Ave. Church of Christ Youth Group, 2601 Custer Avenue, Clinton, OK 73601