Therese Stegmaier Casteel

Therese Stegmaier Casteel, 86, Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 25, 2012 at her residence at Brandon Woods in Lawrence, Kansas. Marie Therese Stegmaier was born on September 28, 1926, in Jefferson City, Mo. She was the youngest of the three children of Otto Charles Stegmaier and Clara Marie Franz. A brother, Dr. Otto C. Stegmaier, and a sister, Mary Loy Stegmaier Carney, preceded her in death. She attended Mary Mount College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Webster University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Social Work. Therese married Benjamin Edward Casteel at St. Peter's Church on May 6, 1950. A union of 40 years resulted in seven children: Ben Casteel (Helene), Mary Casteel, Kathleen Basset (Joe), Jeanne Wichman (Curt), Carol Casteel Frick (Warren), Marvin Casteel, Nancy Cuppy (Bron), 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In 1992, Therese married James Dilger of Houston, Texas. James also preceded Therese in death. Memorial services for Marie Therese Stegmaier Casteel will be conducted in two locations. On Monday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m., a brief memorial service and reception will be held at Brandon Woods in Lawrence, Kansas. On Friday, November 2, at 9:15 a.m., the family will receive friends at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City, Missouri. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. In keeping with Mrs. Casteel's wishes, she bequeathed her body to the University of Kansas Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to St Jude Children's Hospital, St. John the Evangelist Church in Lawrence, Kansas, or the Carmelite Convent in Jefferson City, and sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to: www.warrenmcelwain.com.