Arthur L. Stienstra

Stienstra, Arthur L. WEST SAND LAKE Arthur L. Stienstra, 92, of Millers Corners Road died on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Born in Franeker, Friesland, the Netherlands, he was the son of the late Arthur G. and Dorothy Reitsma Stienstra and husband of the late Eileen Carberry Stienstra who died on December 29, 2003. The Stienstra family immigrated to the US when Art was five years of age and lived in the Chicago area and Massachusetts. Art was an Army Veteran of World War II and served in the 746th Tank Battalion in Europe. He also served one year of active duty in the Korean conflict. He was a Military Escort for deceased soldiers. While stationed in Schenectady, he met his wife and settled in this area in 1948. He earned his bachelor of science degree from the Empire State College. He worked for Altech Specialty Steel Corp in Watervliet where he was a design engineer for 30 years, retiring in 1981. Art was the founder of the Want Ad Digest and printed the first issue in 1962. Along with being a genealogy buff, Art took great interest in the history and culture of the Netherlands, he maintained many friendships and family contacts throughout the world and spoke several languages. Art was a devoted caregiver to his wife Eileen for 20 years until her death and was a founder of the Capital District Parkinson's Support Group. Art was the brother of the late Agnes Ebbeling and Anne Taft. Survivors include his children, Anne (Richard) Schmidt of Albany, Arthur (Mary Pat) Stienstra of East Greenbush and Clare (Mark) Boudreau of Wynantskill; his brothers, George Stienstra of Mass. and Herman Stienstra of Ind.; his sister, Ethel Bates of Mass.; his grandchildren, Katie (Scott) Pincher, Michael and Sarah Schmidt, Jessica and Daniel Stienstra, Emily and Matthew Boudreau; and his great-grandchildren, Noah, Jacob and Owen Pincher. Art's family wishes to give a special thank you to the staff at the Stratton VA Medical Center's Silver Team and Dialysis Unit and the Staff at the Albany Medical Center DSE5 Neuroscience Unit. Funeral Saturday 10 a.m. at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43 at Glass Lake, Averill Park. Interment will follow in St. Henry's Cemetery, Averill Park. Relatives and Friends are invited to call at the funeral chapel on Friday 4-7 p.m. If desired, donations in memory of Arthur L. Stienstra may be made to the Sand Lake Ambulance, PO Box 222, West Sand Lake, NY 12196.