Private Family Services
- A time of visitation will be on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home. A private family service with military honors with burial on Wednesday in Hope Cemetery.
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Stanley Joseph
Stepien
March 3, 1928 – September 20, 2018
Obituary
Stanislas Joseph Stepien (Better known as Stanley Joseph Stepien, or just plain Stan !)
Many people pass through life and never find its meaning. A few will pass away, never again to be remembered. In some ways we are alive as long as just one person remembers us and keeps our memo0ry fresh by passing on stories of the life that once was. With this in mind, I Stan wish to relate to you stories from my life. Some of you have already been told this. There are others of you who know parts of this, so now you will get the facts from the horses mouth.
I was born on March 3, 1928 on a cold and snowy morning at 9 AM. My parents were both born in Warsaw, Poland. Bartholomew (Bert) and Mary Sophia Brunnick Stepien, and they named me Stanislaus Joseph Stepien. We were living on a farm in Rossiter, Indiana County, PA. (Groundhog country of Punxatawney) Our family was a traditional Polish family of 3 boys and 2 girls. (I was 4th in line) (Joseph, Paul, Anna, me and Josephine) We all graduated school, and 3 of us went to college. Joseph, became a Army captain, Anna and Josephine became nurses. Anna went to Pitt, Josephine West Penn School of Nursing. She went on to work for the VA hospital. Josie was in the lime light on April 12, 2012, when she was in Pittsburgh for the debut of a documentary, "The Shot Felt Round the World". It was filmed in honor of Jonas Saulk, the doctor who created an effective vaccine for the dreaded disease, Polio in 1955. Josie had worked in the "Iron lung" unit in the former Municipal Hospital in Oakland (Pittsburgh, PA) and her story about a little boy named "Danny", was one that was featured.
As I started my journey through life, we moved from coal mining town to coal mining town. We ended up in Dry Ridge, PA. Where I attended a one room school house with a pot belly coal stove and no running water. One teacher was in charge of eight grades. We then moved to Dayton, PA. And then to a farm in Borland and another one room school. We ended up in the Dayton Schools (until my sophomore year) after the school buses arrived in 1936, and no more one room schools. I was fairly athletic and played on the varsity basketball and baseball teams when I was in 8th grade.
We later moved to Rankin, near Pittsburgh. My mother bought a fish and chicken store where I worked after school and Saturday. I attended the Rankin High School where I made varsity basketball team as a sophomore. The team qualified for the WPIAL championship and the game was played at Pitt Stadium. We did not make it past the first round. The students at Rankin were almost all black, unlike the other schools that I attended which were all white. What a contrast!
In 1944 we moved to Braddock, PA where my mother bought a hotel and a bar. I was kept busy working in the bar and hotel during my junior and senior years. I had been able to get my drivers license at the age of 14 because of special rules for the farm kids. I learned to drive in a 1925 Chevy.
During the summers of 1944 and 1945 I worked full time at Kennywood Parks, operating the merry-go-round, and was still able to help my mother in the bar and hotel. To my best knowledge, I am the oldest alumni of Kennywood employees. This was one of 2 of the oldest amusement parks on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1944, when I was in high school, I also had a job at Braddock Paint and Glass, where I worked as an at-needed basis after school and Saturdays. I made deliveries in a 1941 Chevy pick up.
In May, 1946, I was drafted into the Army Air Force, and served until June, 1947. Upon my return, my brothers bought a restaurant in Braddock, PA which they call it J & P. My brothers also both served in the Army, and my brother Paul was awarded the Purple Heart. I ended up being a cook, dishwasher and all around helper in the restaurant. I was also a bar tender for our mother at 922 Talbot Ave., Braddock, PA. My brother Joe and I bought a bar in E. McKeesport, PA. It was called the Arlington Lounge. About a year after we purchased it, a tornado hit it and took off the roof. It was on a Friday night with customers inside. No one was hurt !.
We also bought a tailor shop in Braddock in 1950 and Mary's Tavern at 12th and Carson Streets on the Southside of Pittsburgh. My brothers and I worked in 5 business and also sold Christmas trees.
February 12, 1950, our father died (age 64) of black lung disease and was buried on Valentines Day. This was common for those who worked in the mines.
On August 30, 1952, I married my wife, the former Janet Painter. We choose to not have a typical Polish wedding, we eloped to Cumberland, MD. In 1954 we bought a house in Bethel Park, PA. I started a rubbish route in the South Hills, drove a pick up for a produce company, drove a taxi cab and delivered for the US Postal service. In the spare time we were a bus driver. Two years later we bought a restaurant in Brial Hill, PA and converted it into a bar and sold it.
In March of 1964, Mom died at the age of 73. She was a hard worker all her life. The next 46 days, we were saddened by the death of our brother Joe at 46 years old.
My work career took me to North Hills Howard Johnson's as an assistant manger and then a manager of the restaurant at Montefiore Hospital. In 6 weeks I moved to North Hills Pancake Kitchens as a manager. A year later moved to Waldman's Meats in New Castle, PA as a driver/salesman.
In 1968, my partner and I purchased the Rose Distributing in Salem, OH. We delivered fresh and frozen produce to the area restaurants. We were very well known in the area for our sales of produce that I sold as well as delivered. I sold the business in 1984 and moved on to being a oil well "pumper". A well checker and repairman for about a year.
In 1974, our home was hit by my second tornado. I was home with three other men, my wife was at work. No one was hurt, the house was three forth demolished.
I next moved on to own Stans' Diner in Youngstown and operate Mid-Way Market until 1986. I later moved on to work at Multi-County Juvenile Center and then a youth leader at a group home in Canton, OH. I retired from there in 1998.
I later delivered for Lemon Tree Flowers, and volunteer driver for the VA. The biggest problem was that the radio was always on the Polka music station.
Our first son was born on my 25th birthday, Stanley James. We also called him Jamie or Jim. He attended the school of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK and was hired right away by Boeing in Wichita, KS. He married his high school sweetheart Joyce from Salem.
Our second son, Steven John was born on March 28, 1954. Steve died in 1986 during heart surgery. He was married to Linda at the time.
Our third son, Stuart Jan was born July 16, 1956. He died in 2014 after a battle of cancer.
My wife realized the dream had come, her daughter, on June 25, 1963. Susan Jayne was born, She is married to Keith Johnson..
My wife, Janet passed on May 1, 2007. She was 75 years old and my wife of 55 years.
I want you to know that this story of my life has been shortened. If I had the time to tell the whole story, you would be here for quite a while. I also realize that I have a real gift of gab, and can really talk up a storm.
I also want to introduce you to my grandchildren, Pete "PJ", James, Steven, Jason, Mollie, Jaclyn, and Masey. I also need to introduce you to my great grand babies, my beloved Erika, and Stevie P., Sydney, Macknize, Sophia, Draven, and Charrlotte.
As you can see, over the years I was quite a busy person as my mother was. I really had a leisure side, and here is just a quick look into that side of my life.
When I was young, I was quite an athlete. I played basketball, football and run track in school. I also could have run the Boston Marathon backwards and won. I played AAA baseball in 1949 and 1950. I had tried out to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.
In general, I love sports and have enjoyed following the teams over the years. You all know how I felt about the different teams. If you don't know anything about this, just ask someone else who knew me. You will be given quite a ear full about my opinion.
I also took up bowling in 1970, and was a bit competitive in this. I bowled my only 300 game in the late 70's. I have bowled in tournaments all over the United States. I have served as President of the Tuesday Night Bowling League in Salem, President of the Salem Hall of Fame Association and Ohio Bowlers Association. I have bowled on numerous teams over the years but lastly was Caption for Ray Greenisen's team, Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home.
I also took up golfing, but never got a hole in one! I was an ambidextrous that made many lose their minds as I golfed.
I also loved to take my wife to the horse races at Mountaineer Race Track. We enjoyed the place as well as being able to gamble there. I am sure many would say I was an avid gambler. It was a great place to go, and make so so many friends.
To my many friends, and family……….
In this world which is a stage I have played many roles. I take great pride in the fact that, I was one of five children whose parents were immigrants that spoke no English, accomplished all that we had.
I have now made my final exit……….. I have given you a small look into our lives over the years. I just ask one thing, I hope that many years into the future I remain "alive" in your memories. You all know the stories I have shared, those are the special ones to keep near and dear in your heart.
Life has been good !
So now, to all my friends and family...... The final act is done, we have come to the end of the show. This is my last and final review of a wonderful life lived.
Stanley Joseph Stepien 90, of Salem, died at 9 AM, September 20, 2018 at his daughter's home following a courageous battle with cancer.
Stan was born on March 3, 1928 in Rossiter, PA, son of Polish immigrants, Bartholomew and Mary Sophia (Brunnick) Stepien.
Stan was a friend in deed to many over the years. Most of all, he was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He was a great mentor to his children and his grandchildren over the years.
He was the former owner of Rose Distribution, where he sold and delivered fresh and frozen produce to area restaurants from 1968 to 1984. He then moved on to own Stan's Diner in Youngstown, Mid-Way market south of Salem from 1984 to 1986. Stan then worked at Multi-County Juvenal Detention Center and was a youth leader of a group home in Canton from 1986 to his retirement in 1998.
Stan lived around the Pittsburgh, PA area until 1968, and lived in this area since then. He was a very hard worker from a young boy, and proudly served in the Army Air Force.
He was an avid and competitive bowler, gambler, golfer, loved sports and tried-out for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians. Stan enjoyed to garden and give his tomatoes to anyone that would take them. He enjoyed starting a good argument then would just sit back and smile. If a close friend or family member called in need, he was there. He selflessly gave of his time and compassion to those close to him over the years.
Stan was married to Janet (Painter) Stepien on August 30, 1952. She died after 55 years of marriage on May 1, 2007. He was also preceded in death by his sons, Steven John Stepien in 1986 and Stuart Jan Stepien in 2014, as well as his siblings Joseph, Paul, Anna and Josephine.
He is survived by his son Stanley "Jim" (Joyce) Stepien of Wichita, KS and Susan Jayne (Keith) Johnson of Salem, and grandchildren Pete "PJ", James, Steven, Jason, Mollie, Jaclyn and Masey, and great grandchildren Stevie P., Sydney, Macknize, Sophia, Draven, his beloved Erika and Charrlotte.
A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM at the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services. The family has chosen to have a private funeral service. He will be laid to rest on Wednesday in Hope Cemetery with full military honors rendered by the Salem Honor Guard.
The family is truly thankful that Stan will not have to see the Pittsburgh Steelers have another horrible season.
Arrangements by the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, Salem. ( 330.332.4401) (Sign the guestbook or read his life story at www.apgreenisenfh.com)
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