David William Stege

June 26, 1969 - February 9, 2022

David was born on June 26th, 1969 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a notorious school-skipping event that resulted in burning several acres of Osage County and his dad’s truck, he thankfully graduated from Booker T. Washington High school in 1987 and enlisted in the United States Army as a linguist. David studied Korean and spent over a decade between Korea and the United States. He spent time in Oahu, Arizona, Colorado and the Pentagon. With each assignment he made an imprint on those he mentored and served. His experiences as a leader provided motivation to become a First Sergeant. David deployed to Iraq twice from 2004 – 2006 in this role. He loved being able to directly affect the lives of his soldiers in a positive way. He pursued these duties with reverence for this responsibility. David was proud of the soldiers he served with and the missions they completed. In his writings he wrote eloquent descriptions of the gravel lanes near the Korean border where peppers were laid to dry in the sun. He wrote passionately about standing in the Fertile Crescent, the birth place of civilization, watching the Iraqi people walk away from polling places with their blue stained fingers triumphantly. He wrote about his pride and love for his fellow soldiers. While serving in the 10th Mountain Division in New York, he met the woman who would become his fiancé, Tami Pennington. He shared his time and love with her children Hayley, Katrina and Daniel Newman, and grandson Zayden Perez, who were dear to him. After his tours in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He retired from the Army on August 31st, 2008; exactly 20 years and 8 days after his enlistment. He continued to serve as a civilian at Fort Drum until 2015, when he moved to Tahlequah, OK with his partner Tami. In Tahlequah he attended Northeastern State University. He loved to learn, appreciate, and talk about history. His mastery of the historical facts and military implications of some situations made him alternately the professors’ pet or perhaps – nemesis, on several occasions as he took classes and worked on his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. David continued to work at the university after graduating. He found joy in helping others and having the opportunity to mentor students. David is survived by his fiancé, Tami Pennington, his siblings: Gerard (Shelley) Stege of Broken Arrow, OK, Paul (Laura) Stege of Frisco, TX, Peter (Janie) Stege of Tulsa, OK, John (Marie) Stege of Oklahoma City, OK, and Teresa (Brian) Spavins of Tulsa, OK, and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved, mentored and cherished. He is preceded in death by his mother Margaret “Peggy” Stege Nestle, his father Harry Stege and his beloved dogs Bella and Henry. David always had a half-chuckle ready. He stood up for those who couldn’t standup for themselves and spoke to people genuinely as if they were the most important person in the room. He was slow to anger and quick to understand. He never judged, and was smarter then he led on. He took care of people and he personified leadership. David will be deeply missed, and fondly remembered until we all meet again in God’s great Love.