Stephen John Holstein
Stephen John Holstein, 75, of Fond du Lac, died on November 14, 2021, after a six-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on September 25, 1946, in Los Angeles, California to John Holstein and Mary (Haen) Holstein. He grew up in Alhambra and Pasadena and received a BA in psychology from UCLA in 1969. He received a MS in clinical psychology from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1971. While in graduate school in Madison, Steve met his future wife, Ruth Bosserman, and they were married in Madison on June 16, 1973. Steve received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974. After completing an internship at Milwaukee VA Medical Center, Steve and Ruth moved to Fond du Lac, WI in 1974, where he began working as a clinical psychologist at the County Healthcare Center. He worked for the county for 35 years, retiring as Chief Psychologist in the Department of Community Programs in 2009.
Steve’s long career in mental health helped many people in the community, and in retirement he continued his passion for helping others through his involvement with Free Spirit Riders and the St. Vincent de Paul Store.
Steve was very involved in First Presbyterian Church in Fond du Lac, serving as a deacon, a member of the church council for several terms, and a member of two pastor nominating committees, as well as chairing several other committees. He especially enjoyed creating the weekly slideshows for worship services and running these programs during the worship services.
Steve is survived by his wife, Ruth; three children, Heather (the late Joel) Kozlowski of Oak Creek, Hillary (Paul Musiala) Holstein of Madison, and Andrew (Jessica Drewry) Holstein of Madison. He is further survived by his three grandchildren, Leo and Sylvia Musiala and Eleanor Holstein. He is also survived by his brother, William (Sue) Holstein; brothers-in-law, Brent (Colleen) Morrison and Richard (Carol Larsen) Bosserman; and sister-in-law, Olivia Cadaval Bosserman. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elizabeth Morrison, sister- and brother-in-law, Judith and Edward Foreman; and brother-in-law, David Bosserman.
Steve had Type 1 Diabetes for 56 years, but he did not let this interfere with his lifestyle or family life. He enjoyed camping, hiking, watching movies and reading thrillers and mysteries, but most of all he loved spending time with his family, which in recent years included several young grandchildren. We will miss Steve’s generous spirit, his compassion for others, his deadpan sense of humor, and his bad Dad puns.
The visitation will be held on Friday, November 19, 2021, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 1225 4th Street, Fond du Lac, 54935, and then again on Saturday, November 20, 2021, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Memorial service will be held after the visitation on Saturday at 11:00 AM at the church. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, St. Vincent de Paul – Fond du Lac County, St. Katharine Drexel Homeless Shelter (P.O. Box 1473, Fond du Lac, WI 54936), or a charity of your choice.
Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com