Obituary of Ronald Utread Stem

Ronald Utread Stem, Jr., 79, of Freehold, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at home. Born in Northampton, Pennsylvania, he lived in Freehold and Deerfield Beach, Florida prior to returning to Freehold three years ago. He was a truck driver for J.M. Ahle, South River, for ten years, retiring ten years ago. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Some of his greatest joys in life were deep sea fishing, boating, and horse racing. Mr. Stem was predeceased by a son, Ronald Utread Stem, III, in 1955; and a grandson, Justin Marc Newcastle, in 1990. Surviving are his longtime companion, Mildred Divins; a daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl Ann and Mark Newcastle, Bowie, Maryland; a son, Kenneth William Stem and his companion, Cindy Switzer, Sayreville; his stepchildren, Judith Chamas and her husband, George, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, Jacqueline Ray and her husband, Kenneth, Timothy Divins and his wife, Jacqueline, all of Monroe Township, and David Divins, Wrightstown; two half-brothers, Richard Stem, Arcadia, Maine, and Robert Stem and his wife, Mary, Leola, Pennsylvania; a half-sister, Carol Shiffner and her companion, Duncan MacQueen, Somerset; four grandchildren; two great granddaughters; 13 step grandchildren; and two step great grandchildren; and his other companion, Cody the bird. Services will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown. Donations in his memory to Grace Hospice, 105 Fieldcrest Av., Suite 402, Edison, NJ 08837 would be appreciated. Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold is in charge of arrangements.