Stephen Alan Deethardt
March 16, 1954 - October 13, 2011
Obituary
Stephen Alan Deethardt
Paul and Carol Deethardt would like to announce that Stephen Alan Deethardt went home to his Lord in Heaven on October 13, 2011. He was fifty-seven years old. Stephen was born in March 16, 1954 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Military Hospital two months premature. Right away, the doctors gave little hope of Stephen’s survival. Stating he would have lifelong problems. In spite of that, we were determined to give Stephen all the help and love we could for him to survive and he did, far beyond his predicted life expectancy. He was born deaf and mute. He was later diagnosed as Downs Syndrome. He lived his life mostly free from illness. His early life was spent in the care of many doctors and hospitals. At last, he overcame many of his handicaps. Although he was forever deaf and mute he was a very happy child and smiled all the fifty-seven years he lived and brought warmth to all those who got to know him. His beautiful blue eyes were donated to the organization Sight life.
One of his best friends was the man who cut his hair every month, David St. John. After David would trim Stephen’s hair, they would hand in hand to the Starbucks across the way for a time of fun together over cocoa. Stephen always looked forward to that time. Thanks David, you are special.
Stephen is survived by his parents Paul and Carol Deethardt; two sisters Cheryl Ann Logan and Deborah Lyn Lohman and brother-in-law Russell Lohman all of Orting, WA; three nephews Jason Paul Lohman, Justin Wayne Lohman, and Benjamin Michael Logan and their respective wives, Rachael, Katy, and Ann; one niece Rachel Marie Maygra, and husband Daron, three grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.
Arrangements were made for Stephen by Bonney-Watson Federal Way Funeral Home.
A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at 11:00AM. Pastor Jeff Moorehead will officiate. Please come to Christ’s Church in the Ministry Center, 941 S. Dash Point Rd., Federal Way, WA 98003, phone 253-941-2711, and website www.ccfw.org.
The family has requested memorial gifts in Stephen’s memory be given to Christ’s Church missionary fund.
To Debbie and family…..Debbie I know how much you loved Stephen…I know you are a great loving sister and I enjoy working with you at Boeing, you have a great heart and Stephen was very luck to have you as his sister….
Your Friend,
Todd
I will miss you Stephen. I think about you every day. I’m lucky to have had a uncle like you Stephen. I will never forget your smile and the excitement you showed when showing me your shiny coins, or the way you got excited for christmas and Birthdays. One day we will meet again buddy. Love Jason, Rachael, Lily, and Ashley.
Stephen you have brought so much joy to our lifes. We are going to miss your smile, laugh, dearest blue eyes and warm heart. There is no one out there that can replace who you are and how you made each one of us in your family feel. We love you so much and you will forever be in our heart and memories. Love Always, Justin, Katy and Bristol Lohman
Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never be more than a thought apart,
for as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart.
God Bless you Stephen
I just wanted to express how proud I was that GOD choose me to be your MOM….
I miss you deeply,You will always be my champion,in this life.
Hugs and kisses go out to you every day..
My love
Mom
I am missing you so much Stephen. Thank you for being my brother for 54 years. I will love and miss you for ever. I have nothing but wonderful memories of you. I know one day we will see each other again in heaven. Love you!!!!
My little buddy, I sure do miss you. Love, your brother in Christ.
I still miss you so much. We missed you at Christmas. I look at your picture everyday and it makes me smile. I wear you bracelet to remind me of you everyday. I will take care and be there for Dad and Mom.
Love and miss you
See you in heaven one day
Deb
Dear family, I just recieved this news today from Doug McClure. Stephen was a wonderful person. I remember that as a youing boy at Twin City he was always glad to see me. He would draw near and say Hi!. I rejoice knowing he has seen Jesus and is whole in every way. He had a heart like that of Jesus and I am tearful as I remember the joy he always brought me!. God Bless You All!!.
Dear Deethardt Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Stephen’s passing away, but I know that now he is completely whole. I know that God has wrapped His loving arms around your family and you have experienced God’s amazing grace!! What wonderful memories I have of your family!!! Stephen always had a smile and wave for everyone!!
My parents passed away in 2004 within 6 months of each other. Heaven gets sweeter and sweeter!!
Love and prayers,
Judy
Paul, Carol, Cheryl and Debbie,
I realize now that Steve’s passing was some time ago but I just saw this through the Facebook group for Twin City Baptist Church.
I am so sorry for your loss. I have so many fond memories of Steve and our growing up at Twin City.
I have often wondered where everyone ended up. I thought you all were in Kansas City for some reason.
God Bless All of You!
Wonderful memories of those youth group bus trips to the monthly teen meetings around N. Indiana.
i will always remember little steve. in church he would look at his mother and put his finger under his nose and point at me because i had a mustace that he was going to sit with me.the love for him was always great
Sorry to hear about Steve, I just seen it on Facebook. I thought about you all many times and the good times we had at Twin City Baptist, and the Youth Dept. I often wondered where you all moved to. Lord Bless You All !!!
Bro. Linn Hunsley
So sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. I always rememeber his smiling face and him coming to say hi. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
What a blast of wonderful memories, when we read of Stephen’s homegoing. He was such a dear and his joy was infectious. We loved him so much. Have thought of you all many times and thank God that our paths crossed in those precious years.
Hugs,
George and Joan
We want to express our sorrow for the passing of Stephen. We have many fond memories of times spent with your family. If our paths ever cross it would be wonderful to catch up on the last 30 years. (WOW, where does time go?)
Ralph and Julie
jaeggleston@aol.com
Happy birthday dear Brother…..
Love you,
your sis
Happy Birthday Stephen! We miss and love you so much.
WOW! I can’t beleive it was 58 years ago today you came into my life a tiny,tiny baby.It is even harder to believe it has been 5 months since we said goodbye.I miss your hugs and many kisses,your smile and laughter.Most of all I MISS-YOU!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHEN.
LOVE- HUGS-KISSES…mom
I am so sorry to just get the news of Stephen’s homegoing. It grieves the hearts of those of us left behind but it brings joy knowing that this precious one is at home in the arms of our Lord! How often I have thought of your family! We always enjoyed Stephen so much when he came into the beauty salon with you Carol, he was just such a joy to be around. I pray that God will continue to comfort your family and that you are all doing well. It looks as though we are on the opposite ends of the USA! Love and prayers, Sharon (Sherry)
Dearest Steve,
It’s Fathers Day and I want to say how much I miss you.
I am so glad that God gave me you to be my son, We had many happy times together. I know you are now enjoying all the things that heaven offers you that you didn’t have here on earth, seeing Jesus, hearing and talking. Mom and I will be glad for the day when with Cheryl , Debbie, Russ and all the rest of our family will gather together to share Hevenly joys together forever more.
Praise be to God.
Love and kisses son,
Dad
I still miss and think of you everyday my dear brother Stephen!
Love you
Your sister Deb
OH MY!!!
WHAT A YEAR THIS HAS BEEN.I TALK WITH YOU EVERY DAY.WE SHARED THE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DATE WITH YOUR SISTER AND THEIR FAMILIES.EVERY ONE SHARED THEIR TIMES SPENT WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY ON THIS EARTH AND HOW MUCH THEY MISS YOU.
…WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING
THE ETERNAL JOURNEY IN HEAVEN WITH YOU..
I MISS YOU SO VERY MUCH.MY HEART ACHES JUST TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.I ALSO MISS YOUR BEAR HUGS AND THE BIG KISSES YOU GAVE ME EACH MORNING.I KNOW AND FEEL YOUR PRESENCE IN SO MANY WAYS.MANY HUGS AND KISSES ARE SENT EACH DAY TO YOU.
I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH.
MOM
Love and still miss you still everyday.
Dearest Stephen
Another Valentines Day without you here physicaly…..YOU are always in my heart and mind.Valentines Day was one of your favorite special days.Papa bought me a beautiful little vase with a rose ,that opens and says I LOVE YOU on a little red heart inside.It just what you would have bought for YOUR FAVORITE VALENTINE. M E….I have it setting on my desk in the office.SEE YOU ARE ALWAYS HERE.
Till I see you LOVE & HUGS your way
Mom
Happy birthday Stephen! Miss and love you everyday:)
Your sister
Deb
Dad & I celebrated your 59th birthday with a cute little cake and bought 2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY baloons.I still miss you so very much.The ache never goes away.We will release the baloons,like we did when you were here.
Lots of big bear hugs and kisses go out to you everyday.
Love Mom
I would like to share this article I found shortly after Stephen’s
going home…He would bring me ‘flowers’all summer long
and I really miss that.
……………..DANDELIONS FOR MY MOM………..
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY I USED TO POCK DANDELIONS FOR MY MOM.I’D BE RUNNING AROUND THE BACKYARD AND NOTICE THOSE BRIGHT,CURIOUS,LITTLE YELLOW WEEDS.OF COUIRSE,AT THAT TIME,I DIDN’T KNOW THEY WERE WEEDS;I THOUGHT THEY WERE FLOWERS.I KNEW THAT I LOVED MY MOM,SO IN MY LITTLE WORLD DANDELIONS MADE PERFECT SENSE.I’DWALK INTO THE HOUSE AND PROUDLY ANNOUNCE “MOMM.I PICKED YOU A FLOWER!” WITH A BRIGHT SMILE SHE WOULD SAY A HUGE THANK YOU,AND GIVE ME A BIG HUG,AND THEN PUT THE DANDELIONS IN A LITTLE GLASS OF WATER AND PLACE IT ON THE WINDOW SILL ABOVE THE KITCHEN SINK.MY MOTHER DIDN’T CARE THAT I GAVE HER WEEDS.REALLY,WOULD ANY MOTHER?SHE WAS SIMPLY OVERJOYED AT A LITTLE ACTACT OF LOVE THAT HER SON OFFEREDHER.
IT REALLY WASN’T ABOUT THE DANDELIONS;IT WAS ABOUT THE SON DOING HIS BEST TO SHOW HIS MOM THAT HE LOVE HER.AND ISN’T TAHT ENOUGH TO LIFT A MOTHERS SPIRITS,TO TOUCH A MOTHER’S HEART?
YOUR SMILE
Though your smile is gone forever,and your hand I cannot touch,I still have many memories of the son I loved so much.
Your memory is my keepsake,with that i’ll never part.
God has you in his keeping
I have you in my heart.
You are missed so much every day…
It has been 2 years since God called you home.Altho it was a direct answer to pray,that you would not suffer and would not be left without your Papa or me.God is so good even tho that does not lessen the heartache of not having you with us.We miss you so very much.I know you are in the best place and would not wish you back..I KNOW THAT IN MY HEART…But my motherly human side would like that.
LOVE HUGS AND KISSES GO OUT EVERYDAY TO YOU..
MOM
Missing you so much everyday.
Love you
Debbie
Well my little Buddy it is 2014
The years go by and I still miss you each and every day..Missed you so much at Christmas time…looking for Santa and wrapping every present..You loved unwraping the presents…and trying on new clothes then modeling them for us..WHAT AN INNOCENT LITTLE SOUL YOU WERE.
I feel your presence every day.
Looking forward to the day we will all be united.
Oh by the way you have a new little niece Paitan,,just like Bristol she has some of your features.But you probably knew all of this..God gives us little reminders..to keep you forever in our hearts.
HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU
Mom
My SPECIAL LITTLE SON
It is Fathers Day 2014…We celebrated it with both of your sisters and Russ.We all missed you …but felt your presence..
I miss you so very much.The ache never goes away.
Much LOVE and many hugs and kisses to you Steve.
Mom
Still can’t believe it has been three years already. Still miss you everyday. Your family dearly misses you. Love you my sweet Brother!!!
Deb
PS keep the shiny pennies coming !
My Sweet,Sweet Son
Another year has come and gone.
It has been 3 years since God called you home.
I know you are far better off,,but the heart-ache never goes away.
I miss you so much.I miss sharing little things with you.,even you could not talk we had a special speech communication.
Your beautiful blue eyes and the dimpled smile.
I loved hearing you laugh and sing.
One day sweetheart we will all sing together.
What a glorious day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
and I know you will be there to hold my hand.
I see you in your Papa everyday and it makes me smile.
Hugs and BIG kisses go out to you each day.
Mom
Well Babe it is another new year 2015.
The last year was a very hard year for Papa & Me..
We both miss you so very much
We still use your sign language almost everyday…it makes us smile..
You are so missed and we were so blessed….
Mom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY…
What a miracle you turned out to be..living all those 57 years in silence and unable to speak ..God truly looked out for you..
our lives were blessed for having you being a part of them..
We. long for the day when we will hear you speak and talk with us.We will walk hand in hand and laugh and talk and smile a lot..
Dad is extremely ill and has been for several months.He misses you terribly…However when things are going rough we find little reminders of you …shinny pennies…little notes here and there..All of these make us smile.
We miss you little BUDDY…your hugs/kisses and beautiful smile…till we all meet again love and kisses go up to everyday
Mom and PaPa
Happy Birthday my dear brother
Still missing you everyday
Love Deb!!!!
Well Babe It has been 4 years since the Lord called you home
It does not get any easier..There Is always an ache in my heart that never goes away..
I miss you so very much..
Every time I find a bright shinny penny or see a bright yellow dandelion in bloom ..it like holding you.These things will have
to do until I hold you in heaven .
Your sweet presence is always with me
Big hugs and kisses MY Buddy
Mom
Oct.13,2015
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE.IT IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU..DAD AND I OFTEN RECALL ALL OF YOUR LITTLE FUN THINGS YOU DID AT CHRISTMAS. “.WE MISS YOU BUDDY.”
OUR MEMORIES ARE BOUNDIFUL AND HEAVEN IS SWEETER AS EACH DAY GOES BY
WE STILLSEND BIG BEAR HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU
MOM
NO I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU…
YOU ARE IN MYTHOUGHTS EVERYDAY….MEMORIES
THAT ARE PRECIUOS…MY HEART BREAKS EVERYDAY..
DAD AND I DO NOT DO MUCH ANYMORE..GETTING OLDER AND EVERYDAY LIFE IS A CHALLENGE.
BUT…YOU KNOW HOW THAT IS.. YOU WERE SUCH A BRAVE LITTLE GUY..
AS THE SAYING GOES ..YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU NO LONGER HAVE IT..
TILL I SEE YOU IN YOUR NEW HOME.,SOMEDAY I LOVED AND DO LOVE YOU SO MUCH…..MOM
My Stephen
It has been 5 years today that our LORD called you home..
I walk by your room every night on my way to bed ..I stop and tell you Good Night and that I love you very much..You are still a part of my life and I feel you and your love.
I know you are whole now ,able to hear and talk with Jesus…
but you will always be my little Steve..
I loved you all those years and still do now..Papa and I often do your signs and make scarry faces,especially if it is a stressful day..
It makes us laugh..
Kisses and Hugs when I see you in heaven….
Mom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE BUDDY!!!!
The years have passed…but the ache in my heart lingers on..
I miss you so much..Your sweet smile,your bear hugs and all your kisses..
Papa and I keep you with us by remembering all the good times.We make your faces and use your gestures,it makes us laugh..
We look forward to the day when we will be the” Three Amigos” again.
Until then we have precious memories.
You and Dorothy have fun celebrating your birthdays together..
I know you are in a good place.
Hugs and kisses
Mom
Altho you were never in the military,you were born in a military hospital. As you grew older you loved to give that perfect salute..
“You ARE My HERO’
I will never know what it was like not to hear or be able to speak,but you my darling lived in that world of silence..
Therefore you are my HERO..
I salute you on this Memorial Day.
Looking forward to the day I will see you again.’.PERFECT’
Love,Hugs and big kisses until then
Mom
6 years ago today my sweet brother you left us so peacefully to be with Jesus. What a happy day in heaven it was when you became whole with being able to hear him speak your name and your able to say Jesus!! You are terribly missed !
Your family misses you Steve!! Waiting for the
day when we can rejoice as a family again in heaven .
Love you!
My Precious Little Buddy
Six long years ago today Jesus called you home.
What a great day for you NO MORE SILENCE IN HEARNG OR TALKING..
Altho my heart aches every day and the vacancy in my life does not get any easier to bear..I know you are in he better place.
Papa misses you very much and often cries with heart ache,but he to knows you are where you are supposed to be..
We only borrowed you from heaven for a short time and knew the day would come when Jesus would say Come home good and faithful Servant,your work was complete.
Papa and thank the Lord for our time with you..What a blessing you were and addition to our family.
Looking forward to the day when we will be” The Three Amigos”
Till then bear hugs and big kisses
Mom and Papa
an