Stephan John Patoprsty

Stephan John Patoprsty

Okemos - Stephan J. Patoprsty, age 94, died on September 20, 2021 in Okemos, Michigan. He is survived by his wife of almost 71 years, Veronica (Ronnie) Patoprsty and his 6 children: Ann and Dave Pohl of Bloomfield Hills MI, Bobbi (Barbara) and Sigma Alpha of Grand Junction CO, Steve (Stephan F.) and Jennifer (Lahue) Patoprsty of Vienna Austria, Sally and Rick Dishaw of Milford MI, Jean and Scott Jorgensen of Williamston MI, Amy Schouman and Charles Schouman of Zeeland MI. Grandchildren: David and Alyssa (Vermeulen) Pohl of East Lansing MI, Susie Pohl of Knoxville TN, Kauai (Alpha) and Adam Fitt of Grand Junction CO, Cambria and Garrett Alpha-Cobb of Boston MA, Carmel (Alpha) and Darrel Wilde of Houston TX, Josef Patoprsty of Austin TX, Patrick and Kelly (Dykstra) Dishaw of Grandville MI, Alex Dishaw of Belleville MI, Daniel Jorgensen of East Lansing, MI, SSgt Michael Jorgensen of Crestview FL, Stephanie Schouman of Portland OR, Laura Schouman of Ann Arbor MI. Great grandchildren: Ouray and Healy Fitt, Lincoln and Baby Alpha-Cobb, and Margot Pohl.

He is also survived by his sister, Frances Birchmeier of New Lothrup, MI, many nieces and nephews, loved cousins as well as several relatives in the Bratislava area of Slovakia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Johanna Patoprsty, and his granddaughter, Kathryn Grace Jorgensen.

Steve was born on July 27, 1927 in Owosso, Michigan. He grew up in Owosso and joined the US Navy during World War II, stationed on the USS Albany. After the war, he returned to Michigan State College where he earned an engineering degree. He continued in the US Naval Reserves.

Over his 45+ years as an engineer, he worked at several companies across Michigan and Indiana, including the MDOT Highway Department, Buick, US Rubber, Miratile, Blackmer Pump, Brunswick, and S.D. Warren. He was involved in the Professional Engineers Association for many years. He retired from the S.D. Warren Paper Mill in Muskegon in 1996. Steve and Ronnie moved to the Lansing, MI area in 1997.

Steve was always passionate about construction, and designed and built 3 homes for his family.

He was involved in multiple volunteer activities where he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve people in the community. He loved being very active with the West Shore Symphony, the USS Silversides Submarine, St. Francis de Sales Church in Muskegon as well as St. Martha Church in Okemos, MI. He enjoyed volunteering in the archives at the Diocese of Lansing. St. Vincent de Paul Association, and working at the polls for elections. He was proud to have achieved the rank of 4th Degree Honor Guard in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's service organization.

Steve was extremely proud of being a Slovak American and served as branch president for the Jednota, a national Catholic Slovak organization for a number of years. He was very passionate about researching genealogy and traced his family and Ronnie's family back to the 1600's. He was in frequent contact with several relatives in Slovakia and visited them numerous times. He spent 3 months in Sered in central Slovakia teaching English to middle school students.

Visitation will be held Monday, September 27, 2021, 5-7pm, Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing, MI., Rosary following at 7pm. Additional Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 28, 2021 from 10-11am at St. Martha Catholic Church of Okemos, MI. Funeral Mass at 11am with Father Michael Murray officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lansing or USS Silversides Submarine Museum of Muskegon, MI.