Steven Preston Stolte

_{Steven Preston Stolte, age 59 and a lifelong resident of Thorndale, passed away at his home in Thorndale surrounded by family, Thursday evening, Dec. 23, 2021.} 

_{Services for Steven will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Pastor Casey Goetz of Tanglewood Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Retreat cemetery near Thorndale. Visitation is 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the funeral home.}

_{Steven was born Dec. 9, 1962, in Taylor to Preston Stolte and Agnes Virginia (Catchings) Stolte. He was a 1981 graduate of Thorndale High School and began working at the Rockdale power plant until he left there as a foreman. Steven most recently worked as Power Plant Operator for L.C.R.A. in Bastrop. Outside of family, his joys in life were working his cattle and tending to his garden. A lover of his animals, Steven was known for taking in and caring for any lost cat and dog lucky enough to cross his path. A genius with his hands, a self-taught engineer and small engine repairman, he could fix anything he set his mind to.} 

_{He was preceded in death by his father, Preston Fritz Stolte; paternal grandparents, Emil August and Theresia Stolte; and maternal grandparents, Agnes and Roy Robert Catchings.} 

_{Surviving is his wife, Deborah Stolte of Thorndale; sons, Steven Preston Stolte Il of San Antonio, Henry “Hank” Garrett Stolte of Thorndale, and Andrew August Stolte of College Station; daughter, Brittney Ann Lerbakken and husband Dave of Kearney, Neb.; mother, Virginia Stolte of Thorndale; sister, Theresia Goetz and husband David of Thorndale; and granddaughter, Brooke Austyn Lerbakken.} 

_{Pallbearers are David Goetz, Ernest Henry, David Henry, Stanley Henry, Malcom Holder, William Smith, Kelly Rieger and Bryan Woelfel.}