Peter Edward Stein Sr.

Peter Edward Stein,
87, of Aurora, CO, passed away on Tuesday June 18, 2013. Peter was born in Mandan, ND, to Peter V. Stein and Rose Braxmeyer on January 25, 1926. He is survived by his sisters Clara Stein and Angeline Melland, both of Denver, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Joseph and Leo. He met his wife, Bernice F. Albrecht, in Bismarck, ND, married in 1948, and remained married to Bernice until her death in 2007—a 59-year marriage. Pete once told a daughter-in-law that "Bernice taught me how to love." He is survived by their nine children Peter Jr., Claudia Temple, David, Ronald, Kathy Stein, Christine Voss, Lorraine Ware, Mary Chapman, and Tracy Beal; and many beloved sons- and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and special friends. Pete proudly entered the military in 1946 at the end of WW II in the Army Aircorps as an Ordnance Supply Technician, and was awarded the WW II Victory Medal. Eventually he became an electrical engineer-draftsman for Stearns-Rogers and Martin Marietta in Denver. He also applied that knowledge and skills to various projects around the family home on Zenobia St.: finishing off the basement into more bedrooms and bathroom to accommodate an ever-growing family; creating and building a trailer with fold-out sides and compartments which provided more storage and cooking area for Bernice on the frequent summer weekend and vacation camping trips. Pete was an avid fisherman—when he would get a chance to fish after baiting and fixing children's fishing lines! He also loved to tend to his annual vegetable garden. In addition to his career as an engineer-draftsman, Pete often took on second jobs to supplement the family income: Kirby vacuum salesman, Amway distributor, starting an accordion school and being a teacher, gumball machine distributor, greeting card distributor, and bakery donut door-to-door salesman, to name a few. As leader and treasurer for the Boy Scouts, Pete organized the coat hanger collection fundraiser by going door-to-door to collect and bundle coat hangers and sell them to dry cleaners. After Pete's brother Leo passed away in Bismarck in 1977, Pete and Bernice moved back to Bismarck where he assumed responsibility for the development and sale of Stein Estates property—the family farm land. He found a special niche in the Bismarck real estate market by designing homes for the elderly/handicapped-adapted. At one point Pete was awarded Bismarck Real Estate Man of the Year. Pete and Bernice moved back to Colorado in 1995 to retire. He loved to cook, even when he encountered Bernice's irritation at finding every pot and pan out and the kitchen in a mess. While he liked to try new recipes (compiling notebooks full of recipes clipped out of the newspaper), he became a master at making liver patties, pickled pigs' feet, and bortsch soup. The borscht took several days of preparation and cooking before it could be proclaimed READY. Following his German tradition, no Christmas holiday was complete without the Stein version of pickled pigs' feet. And liver patties? Pete would reassure the reluctant diner, "You won't even know you are eating liver!" True! In 2012 Pete sold his home in Aurora and moved to Cherry Creek Retirement Village in Aurora. Everyone knew him, as he engaged in many of the activities. Repeatedly family members would hear from staff and residence "Pete is the nicest man!" Pete loved to sing and ballroom dance, and he was great at both. He had a beautiful baritone voice that was shared in numerous church choirs, barbershop quartets, and family/neighborhood talent shows. When other relatives visited the family, one could count on a German song erupting at any time, with all joining in (even if they didn't know what they were singing)! Pete was singing in his hospital bed with family just hours prior to death. Stephen F. Gaskin once said Music is the expression of harmony in sound. Love is the expression of harmony in life. We will miss your wonderful voice, Pete. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 3049 Syracuse, NY 13220 or The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 or Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090. Thank you Father Michael, and Servers, Thank you. Your service is much appreciated. My Brothers David and Ron and I were servers here on this alter as well. Thank you family and friends for honoring Pete with your attendance. And Betty Ryland A Special thanks to Betty for the love and friendship you and Pete shared the last 6 years. The Steins love you forever. Peter the Rock. Peter Edward Stein was born in Mandan North Dakota January 25, 1926. Music was an all-encompassing part of his family. His Father, Peter Vincent Stein was the Church Organist, and His Mother Rose Braxmeyer the Church Singer. Peter and his family would arrive at Sunday Mass in a horse-drawn wagon. Not drawn by ordinary horses, but a TEAM of Percherons….the finest in the county. Growing up in a community of mostly German immigrants, Peter did not learn to speak English well until he was 7 years old. He rode a horse to school, improved his English, and about age 14, Peter attended Assumption Abby in Richardton North Dakota, and seriously considered entering the Priesthood. The world was at war in the early 40's, and Pete's brothers Leo and Joe answered their county's call to duty. In those days, the Government would allow some male family members to stay stateside and keep farm production going. Leo & Joe returned safely from the front, and then it was Pete's turn to answer his country's call. In February 1946, he entered the Army Aircorps. Peter went thru Basic Training, and was station at Lowery AFB. Here, he was introduced to our beautiful Colorado mountains, the Trocadero Ballroom at Elitch's, and an amazing beverage brewed in Golden. Pete vowed to return to all that some day. When the war ended, Pete returned to the Bismarck North Dakota Area looking extremely handsome in his military uniform, and met a darling five foot 2 beauty named Bernice F Albrecht. Bernice was a former St Mary's High school Cheerleader. Pete & Bernice were married June 17, 1948. The next year, along came the gifts Peter Jr., then Claudia, then David as Pete started his Family in the Bismarck area. Their marriage lasted 59 years, as Bernice passed in 2007.
The Family Budget was stretched thin in those days…..they could barely afford a postage stamp. Their diet must have been pretty bleak. Pete might have described It as "the Maguire Sisters Diet" You know the one: Sugar in the Mornin, Sugar in the Evening, Sugar at Supper Time. Followed by: "Honey in the Mornin, Honey in the Evening, Honey at Supper Time…. But working on the railroad was hard work, physically, so Pete took correspondence courses in Drafting, Process Piping, and engineering. AT the end, it was Music, Music Music that Pete loved, He was trying to sing during his last days. With his family standing around him, led by Claudia, we prayed the prayers of our childhood the words that had for so long given meaning and hope to our lives. I once asked Pete If you could change anything, what would you change? In his wonderful Baritone voice he said, "Just one thing" "I'd Like to sing Tenor!!" Well, St. Peter, have the Angels make room for Pete, he wants to sing tenor…..
Que Tenor: Gerard DiMartini