He was born June 14, 1928, in Brunnental/Wolgagebiet, Russia, to the late Marianne Brethauer Stehle and Heinrich Stehle.
Stehle emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1951, and moved to Bridgeport in 1954.
He retired from Textron Lycoming, formerly AVCO, after 37 years of employment as a machinist.
He also worked many other jobs, including baking, logging, and raising homing pigeons.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanora “Ella” Divjak Stehle; one daughter, Irma (Ron) Nagle of Dorset, Vt.; one son, Jack (Janet) Stehle of Ledyard, Conn.; five brothers, Alex (Gabi) Stehle, Henry (Connie) Stehle, John (Cindy) Stehle, Victor (Emma) Stehle, Adolf Stehle, and Wilhelm Stehle, all of Denver, Colo.; one sister, Irma (John) Slade, of Irving, Tex.; one brother-in-law, Rudy (Ina) Divjak of Milford; four sisters-in-law, Anni Grotti and Minka Divjak, both of Fairfield, Hermine Divjak of Springfield, Mass., and Margaret Jeremics of Cincinnati, Ohio; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
His stepmother, Maria Brethauer Stehle; two brothers, Heinrich Stehle and Samuel Stehle; three brothers-in-law, Alex Divjak, Joe Divjak, and Albert Grotti; two sisters-in-law, Lee Stehle and Maria Stehle; and several nieces and nephews preceded him in death.
Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 455 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880.
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