Otto Kevin STEWART

1927 - 2017

STEWART, Otto Kevin 12/21/1927 - 7/20/2017 Otto Kevin Stewart, 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 20, 2017. It is with profound sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Born in 1927 in Hornell, New York, to Otto K. and Lorene Driscoll Stewart, Otto spent his youth in this small upstate town. Otto attended Georgetown University for both undergraduate and medical school, finishing in 1952. In 1956 while serving in the Army Medical Reserve in Germany, he met and married the love of his life, First Lieutenant Maribeth McMahon, an army nurse from Portage, WI. The couple moved to Duke University in January of 1957 where Otto completed his residency and served as chief resident of orthopedics. In 1961, he moved his family to Sheboygan to join John Van Driest, who was his chief in Germany and also his best man. The two built an orthopedic practice, covering eight hospitals, seven days/week, 24 hours/day. Their practice expanded with Don Gore joining the partners in 1968 and the three became life-long friends. Otto was a favorite among patients and colleagues alike with his generosity, compassion, dedication and never-ending sense of humor. He couldn't travel anywhere in the world without someone recognizing him or a patient calling out, "Hey, Dr. Stewart!" Otto was a pillar of the community who served in many capacities including: St. Nicholas Hospital, president; Piedmont Orthopedic Society, chairman; Sierra Cascade Trauma Society, member; American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, member; and Bay Lakes Council of the Boy Scouts of America, board member (he was an Eagle Scout). He and Maribeth were faithful parishioners of St. Clement Catholic Church for 56 years and of Santa Catalina Catholic Church in Oro Valley, AZ where they had a second home and spent their winters during retirement. Orthopedics and his family were his life. Otto had an everlasting sense of adventure and enjoyed golfing, skiing, traveling, camping, fishing, painting, flying the planes that he shared with Van Driest and spending time with family and friends. In his retirement Otto especially enjoyed the companionship of his painting group, friends in Arizona and the "retired doctors' breakfast club." Otto is survived by his loving wife, Maribeth; six children, Mary (Joseph) Wustner, Kathleen (David Swinney) Stewart, Kevin (Terri) Stewart, Patsy Stewart, Tom (Annette) Stewart, Peggy (Chuck) Angevine; grandchildren, Taryn, Alex, Andrew, Ryan, Zach, Maddie, Riley, Charlie, Jackson, Izabelle; and brother, Jim Stewart of Honolulu. Otto was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Bill. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Vytas Kerpe and his staff at Sheboygan Internal Medicine Associates for their endless care and concern. In addition, we are grateful to the many caregivers who have been integral to Otto's care, including The Gathering Place, Dawn Beinemann and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their exceptional kindness. Family and friends are welcome to a visitation which will take place at St. Clement Catholic Church, 522 New York Ave, Sheboygan, on Monday, August 7, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 5:00 p.m. with Fr. Matthew Widder presiding. Otto will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HSHS St. Nicholas Foundation or The Gathering Place & Memory Matters, Sheboygan Falls. Arrangements by BALLHORN CHAPELS & CREMATION CARE CENTER.