Obituary of Marion Stekoll

Marion "Matt" H. Stekoll, passed on in Santa Cruz at the age of 96 on March 7, 2012. Matt was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 11, 1916. Matt was the son of Harry Stekoll and Anna Skuy who came to the United States from Latvia in the early 1900s. He attended Culver Military Academy and then Stanford University, earning an Engineering degree. He became president of Stekoll Petroleum Corporation in Dallas, Texas. In 1961, he moved to California and became a real estate developer building over 3,000 units in the Bay Area and at Lake Tahoe. He then moved to Scotts Valley where he built industrial parks before retiring to DeAnza Mobile Home Park in Santa Cruz. Matt was an avid golfer. He loved Kauai and spent many vacations with his extended family on the course. He loved travel and nature was loved for his generosity and his sage advice. Matt was married for 57 years to Virginia Bell Stekoll and had three daughters and one son. He then married Fran Crownover who survives him along with her children, LeAnn D'Arcy-Levitre, Sherry Levitre and her husband Joe Merrill, Allan Crownover and his wife Maureen. Matt is survived by his son Michael Steven Stekoll and his wife, Debby Hansen and his two daughters, Elizabeth Magruder MacPhail and her husband Kevin MacPhail, Beverly Grova and husband, Angelo Grova and son in law, Dennis McFarlane and his wife, Lynn McFarlane as well as eleven grandchildren.-Tiffanie Dieffenbach, Laurel McFarlane, Michael Grova, Nicole Grova, Ariana Grova, Monica Grova, Kevin Magruder, Justin Stekoll, Skye Stekoll, Spencer Stekoll and Kokii Stekoll. He is also survived by his three sisters, Robbie Richman, Betty Richman and her husband, Chaim Richman and Chris Bonds along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife Virginia Stekoll and his oldest daughter, Dianne McFarlane. He felt the measure of a man's life was how well you loved. Matt loved well and was loved so much, by so many. He will live on in our lives and hearts. Services in honor of Matt Stekoll will be hosted by his wife Fran and the Crownover family on Sunday, March 25 at 1:00 pm at the DeAnza Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 2395 Delaware, Santa Cruz, CA. At a later date, the Stekoll Family will hold a private friends and family memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations go to an environmental group of your choice.