Ervin Edward Stebane, age 90, went home to be with the Lord he loved, bright and early on June 1, 2011 with his daughters holding his hands. Ervin was born on September 4, 1920 at the Stebane Homestead in the town of Holland, son of the late Albert Sr. and Hattie (Schmidt) Stebane. He attended Holmes School in the town of Brillion. Ervin married Lorraine Micke on Sept. 4, 1943, and they celebrated 64 years of marriage together. He was a lifelong livestock dealer and owned and operated the Circle S Ranch. His greatest loves were God and his family. Ervin was a lifelong member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Forest Junction; the church where he was baptized, confirmed, married, and he served as a member of the administrative board of trustees. Ervin loved his farm and the many different animals that have occupied its space. He raised and trained Registered Quarter Horses and Shetland ponies, as well as hunting and cattle dogs. Ervin loved to hunt and was very successful. He enjoyed his annual hunting excursions to Montana and the Dakotas to visit special friends, as well as to Alma in Buffalo County opening weekend with his hunting group. He was a leader in the Friendly Valley 4-H Club for 50 years and received recognition as an Outstanding 4-H Leader. Ervin and his family have enjoyed involvement and exhibiting at the Calumet County Fair for 58 consecutive years. He received an Outstanding Senior Citizens Award with his wife in 2003. Ervin was a member of the Calumet County Horse Promoters and a past charter member of both the Wayside Rough Riders and Calumet County Riders. He is survived by his two daughters, Kathleen Stebane and Deborah (boyfriend, Chris Wachel) Stebane; a daughter-in-law, Janis (nee-Melcher) Stebane; three grandsons, godchild Dean, Brad (Peggy), and Todd (Darla); one granddaughter, Shelby (Dale) Edinger and six great-grandchildren, Austin, Carter, Garnett and Cami Stebane; Bryce and Chloe Edinger; step great-grandsons: Tim, Erik (fianc Keyln Ermers) and Cody (Stefanie Hahnamann) Kasten; and a step great-great granddaughter Cheyenne Kasten; Chris children: Chad (Bentley) Wachel and Emily Wachel. He is further survived by his sister-in-laws: Betty Stebane, Marjorie Stebane, LeMeryl Kozlowski, Martha Dercks, Evelyn Peer, Rosie (Ossie) Johnson, Joanne VerKuilen, Dell (Marie) Micke; brother-in-laws: Harold (Judy) Micke, Clarence (Joyce) Micke, Kenneth (Carol) Micke. his additional godchildren: Sharon Fischer and Ed Stebane, special nephew and his family: Kevin, Kim, Paige and Preston Stebane; numerous other relatives and many special friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine, two sons: Eugene and Gary; his parents: Albert Sr. and Hattie Stebane; his in-laws: Peter Sr. and Josephine (DeWilde) Micke; brothers: Albert Stebane, Jr., Elmer Stebane and Rueben Stebane; sisters: Alice (Adolph) Becker, Lillian (Earl) Boettcher, Martha Stebane, Esther (Milton) Lambie; sister-in-law: Stephana Ziesemer; brother-in-laws: Peter Micke, Jr., Lawrence Micke, George Dercks, Gordon Ziesemer, Benedict Peer and Donald VerKuilen: nieces: Barbara Stebane and Mary Carol Strong; and nephews: Jerome Stebane, Donald Stebane, Dennis Boettcher, Ricky Dercks, Michael Peer and Curtis Johnson. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm on Monday, June 6, at Zion United Methodist Church in Forest Junction. The Rev. Becky Kindschi will officiate. Burial will take place in Forest Home Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion from 2 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 5. The visitation will continue at the church on Monday from 1:30 PM until the hour of service. Online condolences may be made at www.wieting-funeralhome.com. Memorials will be allocated to Zion United Methodist Church, Calumet County Fair and to Alzheimers Research. Ervins family would like to thank the staff at Darboy Living Center and Harbor Haven in Fond du Lac, along with his extraordinary team of care givers from Hospice Advantage for all of their special care provided to Dad during the past year.
