Michaelroy “Mike” Stern, 78, of Yorktown, Texas completed his journey with Parkinson’s Disease on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Mike was born May 23, 1947, in Lincoln, Nebraska to the late Elmer Schmersal and Doris J. Stern.
Mike married the love of his life Deborah Seiders on June 6, 1970, at Grace Lutheran Church in San Marcos, Texas. He loved his family, his horses, cats, dogs, photography, traveling the US with family and the military. He enjoyed flying a Cessna airplane, scouting, camping, floating down the Rio Grande River with Deborah, and hiking in National Parks, especially Big Bend!
He truly loved in his later years, mowing the grass in their yard and pasture on his zero-turn lawn mower! After retirement he also helped Habitat for Humanity building homes.
He graduated from SWT in San Marcos with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation he was immediately drafted into the army in 1969 and completed officer candidate school in the spring of 1970 to become 2nd Lieutenant, eventually to retire as a Lt. Colonel.
Mike then worked on his master’s in education and later joined the National Guard.
Mike continued his teaching career in Katy, and Corpus Christi for many years, then became principal in Nordheim. He also taught in Kenedy, Cuero, and Refugio. He enjoyed hands on education with his students such as constructing rockets from paper towel rolls in which the students shot into the wide blue sky and constructing a hovercraft and riding it down the hall after the school day was his favorite.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Deborah Stern, daughter Michelle Stern, daughter-in-law SueAnn Stern, grandchildren Alana (Jack) Weisgerber, Rebeccah Lynn (Shane) Johnson, Caitlyn (Tyler) Le Pori, Elijah William Stern, Michael Aaron Stern, Samuel Felipe Cruz, great-grandchildren LeahAnn, Clark David, and Waylon David Le Pori. He is also survived by his brother Ed Schmersal, Bobbie Jo and Alberto Cruz, many relatives and friends.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents, son David Stern, grandmother Nellie B. Jensen Stern Barrett.
Memorial will be 2 pm Friday, August 29, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Memorials can be given to a Parkinson’s Foundation or Harbor Hospice.