Friends and family are cordially invited to a carry in supper for the family of Dr. Gary and Mrs. Jane Stiehl to be held August 17 4 - 7:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church south of Rushville, Neb. Dr. Gary Lewis Stiehl, age 92, passed on to his eternal home on May 18, 2025 in Colorado Springs, surrounded by his loving family. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m., August 15, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, with a reception to follow. Joint interment with his beloved wife will be Monday August 18, 2025 at 9 a.m. in Hay Springs Cemetery, Nebraska.
Gary was born at home April 23, 1933, in Hay Springs, Nebraska, the first child of Clarence Robert and Helga Ingeborg (Ikey) Stiehl. He loved all things athletic and played football, basketball and track earning the top athlete award of his senior class. Gary started working in his dad’s mercantile store at age twelve carrying groceries and stocking shelves. He learned to kindle farmers’ eggs and grade them as well as clean live chickens and turkeys for sale. He helped his dad raise foxes and rabbits as there was a big market for pelts.
Gary loved hunting, fishing, and camping. He earned the Life rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Later he fell in love with the mountains and jeeped nearly all negotiable passes in the Colorado Rockies. Gary and his wife Jane enjoyed endless hours at their beloved mountain cabin.
Gary fell in love with his high school sweetheart, Jane Burrows, and they were united in marriage on June 17, 1953, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rushville, Nebraska. To this union four children were born: Sonja, Lori, Becky and Steve. The couple lived in Virginia while Gary served in the Army during the Korean war. Their next move was to Lincoln, Nebraska where Gary earned his dental degree at the University of Nebraska. After graduation they moved to Sterling, Colorado and eventually settled in Colorado Springs where Gary practiced dentistry for more than 36 years.
He was a member of the American Dental Association as well as the Colorado Dental Association. He was known for being a very kind and compassionate dentist and had a deep love for his patients. He was an active member of the Broadmoor Rotary and the American Legion.
Besides his passion for researching and creating many genealogy books, he loved to haunt antique stores hunting for a bargain.
Gary is preceded in death by his beloved wife Jane, parents, sister Sharon Jancik (Pete), brother-in-laws Ed Burrows, Bryan Burrows (Lavonne), sister-in-laws Janis Wulf (George), Onda West Hupp (Orvis, Gene).
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters; Sonja Nelson(Larry) of Flower Mound, Texas, Lori Woody (Bill) of Ooltewah, Tennessee, Becky McCord (Andy) of Colorado Springs, and son Steve Stiehl (Jackie) of Roseville, Minnesota. Also grandchildren; Rob Nelson (Haley), Paul Woody (Tara), Amy Woody, Ryan Woody (Hillary), Michael Nelson (Meredith), Danika Stiehl, and Matthias Stiehl. Several great grand children; August, Leo, Jack, Penny, Cody, Wendy Nelson and Reed, Lincoln, Shepherd, Lorna, Joanna Woody, sister-in-law, Rose Burrows of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and many nieces, nephews, and longtime friends who were like family.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Gary’s name to Broadmoor Rotary PO Box 38572 Colorado Springs, CO. 80937