Obituary David Stearns
David Brook Stearns, 89, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada following complications from a hip operation and stroke. He was born on October 31, 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Perry J. Stearns and Mae Belle Brook. He graduated from Shorewood High School, class of 1938 and Harvard University, class of 1942.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as a Naval aviation cadet. After getting his wings in Corpus Christi, TX, he transferred to the Marine Corps and trained on the F4U Corsair at Cherry Point Marine base. His squadron, VMF-322, was sent to Hawaii in 1944, and then to the South Pacific for the invasion of Palau. They waited at Emirau for orders but were never called in. The squadron spent the next few months in Espiritu Santo before finally seeing action in the battle of Okinawa in April-May 1945. Dave flew over 300 hours of combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. He returned as a 1st Lieutenant and was honorably discharged.
He enrolled in Harvard Law School in October 1945 and received his law degree in 1948. He was a member of the Wisconsin Bar.
He became a successful businessman in Milwaukee and ran the Milwaukee Cold Storage Company and Kro-Flite Cartage Company. In 1957-58 he served as President of the Wisconsin Warehouseman's Association. He chaired the Republican Party in Milwaukee County and in 1962 was a candidate for the 6th Congressional seat in Milwaukee.
For several years he ran the Stearns Milwaukee Marine Terminal in the port of Milwaukee. He sold his warehouse business and began to practice law. He joined the law firm of Fiorenza, Weiss, Amato, Hodan & Belongia but later returned to the shipping industry. He worked in the ports of Richmond, VA and Charleston, SC, followed by a year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil consulting on a port evaluation project for the World Bank.
Dave married Jeanne Martin on June 20, 1943, daughter of Roland R. Martin and Inez "Babe" Witherall of Milwaukee. He and Jeanne had three children - David Brook Jr.; Deborah Witherall; and James Martin. His wife, Jeanne, died in 1978. He then married Mary Joan Buchta of Milwaukee on May 20, 1979 in Brown Deer, WI. They resided in Richmond, VA; Charleston, SC; Lakeland, FL; and later in Las Vegas, NV until his death.
Dave was a busy man all his life, but always found time for his family. He loved canoe trips, hiking in the North Woods of Wisconsin, swimming, and taking the old roads. Like so many men of his generation, he was a true patriot and put his life on the line to serve his country. He was a staunch conservative in business and politics. Interests included genealogy, history, and politics. He loved to travel and visit old Marine Corps buddies and relatives.
He was a kind and supportive father and dedicated husband. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Joan; sons David Jr. (Konnie) of Lakewood, CO; James (Jody) of Eldorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter Mary Carol Sliter (Ron) of Henderson, NV; and a sister, Rhodora Leyse of Idaho Falls, ID. He is grandfather to Travis (Nancy) of Seattle, WA; Jessica Niegomir (Dan) of Denver, CO; Joshua (Deirdre) of Los Angeles, CA; and Arabella Stearns of Eldorado Springs, CO. He is the honored grandfather of David's stepchildren Andra of Denver, CO, Aimee of Westminster, CO and Addam Cirbo (Elena) of Virginia Beach, VA; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Deborah in 1967, and two brothers, Forest W. and Perry O. His ashes are buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
David Brook Stearns, 89, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada following complications from a hip operation and stroke. He was born on October 31, 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Perry J. Stearns and Mae Belle Brook. He graduated from Shorewood High School, class of 1938 and Harvard University, class of 1942.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as a Naval aviation cadet. After getting his wings in Corpus Christi, TX, he transferred to the Marine Corps and trained on the F4U Corsair at Cherry Point Marine base. His squadron, VMF-322, was sent to Hawaii in 1944, and then to the South Pacific for the invasion of Palau. They waited at Emirau for orders but were never called in. The squadron spent the next few months in Espiritu Santo before finally seeing action in the battle of Okinawa in April-May 1945. Dave flew over 300 hours of combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. He returned as a 1st Lieutenant and was honorably discharged.
He enrolled in Harvard Law School in October 1945 and received his law degree in 1948. He was a member of the Wisconsin Bar.
He became a successful businessman in Milwaukee and ran the Milwaukee Cold Storage Company and Kro-Flite Cartage Company. In 1957-58 he served as President of the Wisconsin Warehouseman's Association. He chaired the Republican Party in Milwaukee County and in 1962 was a candidate for the 6th Congressional seat in Milwaukee.
For several years he ran the Stearns Milwaukee Marine Terminal in the port of Milwaukee. He sold his warehouse business and began to practice law. He joined the law firm of Fiorenza, Weiss, Amato, Hodan & Belongia but later returned to the shipping industry. He worked in the ports of Richmond, VA and Charleston, SC, followed by a year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil consulting on a port evaluation project for the World Bank.
Dave married Jeanne Martin on June 20, 1943, daughter of Roland R. Martin and Inez "Babe" Witherall of Milwaukee. He and Jeanne had three children - David Brook Jr.; Deborah Witherall; and James Martin. His wife, Jeanne, died in 1978. He then married Mary Joan Buchta of Milwaukee on May 20, 1979 in Brown Deer, WI. They resided in Richmond, VA; Charleston, SC; Lakeland, FL; and later in Las Vegas, NV until his death.
Dave was a busy man all his life, but always found time for his family. He loved canoe trips, hiking in the North Woods of Wisconsin, swimming, and taking the old roads. Like so many men of his generation, he was a true patriot and put his life on the line to serve his country. He was a staunch conservative in business and politics. Interests included genealogy, history, and politics. He loved to travel and visit old Marine Corps buddies and relatives.
He was a kind and supportive father and dedicated husband. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Joan; sons David Jr. (Konnie) of Lakewood, CO; James (Jody) of Eldorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter Mary Carol Sliter (Ron) of Henderson, NV; and a sister, Rhodora Leyse of Idaho Falls, ID. He is grandfather to Travis (Nancy) of Seattle, WA; Jessica Niegomir (Dan) of Denver, CO; Joshua (Deirdre) of Los Angeles, CA; and Arabella Stearns of Eldorado Springs, CO. He is the honored grandfather of David's stepchildren Andra of Denver, CO, Aimee of Westminster, CO and Addam Cirbo (Elena) of Virginia Beach, VA; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Deborah in 1967, and two brothers, Forest W. and Perry O. His ashes are buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
Obituary David Stearns
David Brook Stearns, 89, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada following complications from a hip operation and stroke. He was born on October 31, 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Perry J. Stearns and Mae Belle Brook. He graduated from Shorewood High School, class of 1938 and Harvard University, class of 1942.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as a Naval aviation cadet. After getting his wings in Corpus Christi, TX, he transferred to the Marine Corps and trained on the F4U Corsair at Cherry Point Marine base. His squadron, VMF-322, was sent to Hawaii in 1944, and then to the South Pacific for the invasion of Palau. They waited at Emirau for orders but were never called in. The squadron spent the next few months in Espiritu Santo before finally seeing action in the battle of Okinawa in April-May 1945. Dave flew over 300 hours of combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. He returned as a 1st Lieutenant and was honorably discharged.
He enrolled in Harvard Law School in October 1945 and received his law degree in 1948. He was a member of the Wisconsin Bar.
He became a successful businessman in Milwaukee and ran the Milwaukee Cold Storage Company and Kro-Flite Cartage Company. In 1957-58 he served as President of the Wisconsin Warehouseman's Association. He chaired the Republican Party in Milwaukee County and in 1962 was a candidate for the 6th Congressional seat in Milwaukee.
For several years he ran the Stearns Milwaukee Marine Terminal in the port of Milwaukee. He sold his warehouse business and began to practice law. He joined the law firm of Fiorenza, Weiss, Amato, Hodan & Belongia but later returned to the shipping industry. He worked in the ports of Richmond, VA and Charleston, SC, followed by a year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil consulting on a port evaluation project for the World Bank.
Dave married Jeanne Martin on June 20, 1943, daughter of Roland R. Martin and Inez "Babe" Witherall of Milwaukee. He and Jeanne had three children - David Brook Jr.; Deborah Witherall; and James Martin. His wife, Jeanne, died in 1978. He then married Mary Joan Buchta of Milwaukee on May 20, 1979 in Brown Deer, WI. They resided in Richmond, VA; Charleston, SC; Lakeland, FL; and later in Las Vegas, NV until his death.
Dave was a busy man all his life, but always found time for his family. He loved canoe trips, hiking in the North Woods of Wisconsin, swimming, and taking the old roads. Like so many men of his generation, he was a true patriot and put his life on the line to serve his country. He was a staunch conservative in business and politics. Interests included genealogy, history, and politics. He loved to travel and visit old Marine Corps buddies and relatives.
He was a kind and supportive father and dedicated husband. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Joan; sons David Jr. (Konnie) of Lakewood, CO; James (Jody) of Eldorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter Mary Carol Sliter (Ron) of Henderson, NV; and a sister, Rhodora Leyse of Idaho Falls, ID. He is grandfather to Travis (Nancy) of Seattle, WA; Jessica Niegomir (Dan) of Denver, CO; Joshua (Deirdre) of Los Angeles, CA; and Arabella Stearns of Eldorado Springs, CO. He is the honored grandfather of David's stepchildren Andra of Denver, CO, Aimee of Westminster, CO and Addam Cirbo (Elena) of Virginia Beach, VA; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Deborah in 1967, and two brothers, Forest W. and Perry O. His ashes are buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
David Brook Stearns, 89, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada following complications from a hip operation and stroke. He was born on October 31, 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Perry J. Stearns and Mae Belle Brook. He graduated from Shorewood High School, class of 1938 and Harvard University, class of 1942.
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as a Naval aviation cadet. After getting his wings in Corpus Christi, TX, he transferred to the Marine Corps and trained on the F4U Corsair at Cherry Point Marine base. His squadron, VMF-322, was sent to Hawaii in 1944, and then to the South Pacific for the invasion of Palau. They waited at Emirau for orders but were never called in. The squadron spent the next few months in Espiritu Santo before finally seeing action in the battle of Okinawa in April-May 1945. Dave flew over 300 hours of combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. He returned as a 1st Lieutenant and was honorably discharged.
He enrolled in Harvard Law School in October 1945 and received his law degree in 1948. He was a member of the Wisconsin Bar.
He became a successful businessman in Milwaukee and ran the Milwaukee Cold Storage Company and Kro-Flite Cartage Company. In 1957-58 he served as President of the Wisconsin Warehouseman's Association. He chaired the Republican Party in Milwaukee County and in 1962 was a candidate for the 6th Congressional seat in Milwaukee.
For several years he ran the Stearns Milwaukee Marine Terminal in the port of Milwaukee. He sold his warehouse business and began to practice law. He joined the law firm of Fiorenza, Weiss, Amato, Hodan & Belongia but later returned to the shipping industry. He worked in the ports of Richmond, VA and Charleston, SC, followed by a year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil consulting on a port evaluation project for the World Bank.
Dave married Jeanne Martin on June 20, 1943, daughter of Roland R. Martin and Inez "Babe" Witherall of Milwaukee. He and Jeanne had three children - David Brook Jr.; Deborah Witherall; and James Martin. His wife, Jeanne, died in 1978. He then married Mary Joan Buchta of Milwaukee on May 20, 1979 in Brown Deer, WI. They resided in Richmond, VA; Charleston, SC; Lakeland, FL; and later in Las Vegas, NV until his death.
Dave was a busy man all his life, but always found time for his family. He loved canoe trips, hiking in the North Woods of Wisconsin, swimming, and taking the old roads. Like so many men of his generation, he was a true patriot and put his life on the line to serve his country. He was a staunch conservative in business and politics. Interests included genealogy, history, and politics. He loved to travel and visit old Marine Corps buddies and relatives.
He was a kind and supportive father and dedicated husband. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Joan; sons David Jr. (Konnie) of Lakewood, CO; James (Jody) of Eldorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter Mary Carol Sliter (Ron) of Henderson, NV; and a sister, Rhodora Leyse of Idaho Falls, ID. He is grandfather to Travis (Nancy) of Seattle, WA; Jessica Niegomir (Dan) of Denver, CO; Joshua (Deirdre) of Los Angeles, CA; and Arabella Stearns of Eldorado Springs, CO. He is the honored grandfather of David's stepchildren Andra of Denver, CO, Aimee of Westminster, CO and Addam Cirbo (Elena) of Virginia Beach, VA; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Deborah in 1967, and two brothers, Forest W. and Perry O. His ashes are buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
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1ST LT US MARINE CORPS - WORLD WAR II
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