Roy Matthew Joseph Theodore Stein

Sept. 28, 1928 - Nov. 26, 2010

Roy Matthew Joseph Theodore Stein has embarked on his final journey on Nov. 26, 2010, at Vacaville Kaiser Hospital.

Born on Sept. 28, 1928, in Sheboygan, Wis., the bratwurst capital of the United States, Roy was a renaissance man - a lover of sports, literature, cooking and a student of the world. He was the only son of Joseph Stein and Martha Nischik.

Roy studied saxophone, clarinet and sang in his high school band and other bands throughout high school.

After graduation from Sheboygan Central High School, he enlisted in the Navy, and was posted to some of his favorite places in the United States. He went through boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station and then was posted to a country club facility in Monterey, Calif., where he studied electronics. After graduation, he taught electronics in Hawaii.

After his naval service, he returned to Wisconsin where he obtained his undergraduate degree in business administration and economics from Marquette University. He received his teaching credential at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and taught school in Milwaukee, Wis., for several years while he also played saxophone, clarinet and sang in the with the Larry Ladd big band in Milwaukee, usually at the Eagles Ballroom. He met and jammed with many of the big bands that were popular at that time, and retained his love of music for the rest of his life. During that time, his first three children, Douglas, Nancy and Laura, were born.

In 1965, Roy attended a graduate course in history at Sonoma State where he met his future wife, Carol. After their marriage in 1966, they continued to live in Milwaukee for a year, and then moved to Syracuse, N.Y., where he received his master's degree from Syracuse University. At that time, he and his wife and daughter Stephanie moved to Napa, Calif., where he continued his teaching career.

In 1974, Roy left his teaching to concentrate on his restaurant business and continued as a successful chef and owner until his health forced him to retire in 1990.

In 1999, Roy and Carol moved to Vacaville. During that time, he experienced many health problems, but had a wonderful life in spite of it all. He loved his one great-grandchild, 12 grandchildren and four children, had a great time with his friends, and helped care for his mother who lived with him during her late 90s.

During his lifetime, he had many interests. He was active in the Napa Chamber of Commerce, and the chef of its first Oktoberfests. He was a member of the Napa Kiwanis Club and was a longtime member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Napa. One activity he really enjoyed was being a Soroptimister (husband and supporter) of the Napa Soroptimist Club. After his retirement, he quietly performed many acts of kindness for elderly and infirm people of Napa. He loved travel, traveling throughout the U.S. and much of the world. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7244 of Vacaville.

Roy was a nationwide third place winner in 2003 of the Johnsonville, Wis., contest to become king of the Sheboygan Bratwurst Festival. His prize - a year's supply of bratwurst and other sausages. He entered the contest with a scrapbook entitled, "Bratwurst Is My Life."

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Carol Finley Stein; his four children and their spouses, Douglas Stein and wife Shannon of Redding, Calif., Nancy Arant and husband Philip of Rochester, Minn., Laura Lanke and husband Michael of Whitefish Bay, Wis., and Stephanie Corrington and husband Wulfrano of Vacaville, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Rochelle Corrington, Allison (Corrington) Andres, Charles Stein, Emily (Stein) Smith, Erin Lanke, Katherine Lanke, John Lanke, Joseph Arant, Benjamin Arant, Nathan Arant, Natalie Arant and Lydia Arant; and one great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Smith.

Roy's wish would have been for memorial contributions to the service funds of Soroptimist International of Vacaville, P.O. Box 6054, Vacaville, CA 94596, or Soroptimist International of Napa, P.O. Box 614, Napa, CA 94559; Heifer International, P.O. Box 6021, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6621; or Wreaths Across America, P.O. Box 256, Harrington, Maine, 04643.

On Dec. 10, at 10 a.m., a military service will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 5810 Midway Road, Dixon. A Catholic service will then be held at the McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St., in Vacaville at 11:30 a.m. Following the service, all his friends are invited to Roy's Christmas Party at the Diamond Grove Community Center, 201 Bartlett Lane, Vacaville. Roy loved Christmas and Christmas parties, and the family has chosen to honor him with a joyous celebration and remembrance of his life.