Joel Morgan Steward

Steward, Joel Morgan
Of Kalamazoo, Michigan Joel Morgan Steward "A Son of Texas" passed away September 18, 2008 in Kalamazoo, MI. Born in Ovilla, Texas April 6th, 1918, Joel was to be the first surviving child of Charles and Fannie Solomon Steward. Morgan, as he was called by family and friends growing up, like most boys in the then small community, also went by a nickname that was given to him by his Uncle George one day when he was around 2 on a fishing trip to Red Oak Creek. A large group of minnows was jumping in a pool when he pointed them out and said, "look at them splatter". It was believed he meant scatter, but George was so taken by the way he said it that he nicknamed him "Splatter" and it stuck.
During his childhood and teen years, Morgan helped his father and mother work the farms they rented. Later in life he would comment that cotton kept them all slaves. In a good year the price was low and in a bad year it was the same result because you had little to sell even if prices were high. During the depression he also helped out by hunting, trapping and any other jobs he could find. Just two months after Pearl Harbor Joel was inducted in the Army. He would go on to serve in the South Pacific most notably in New Guinea. Upon his rotation back to the States he ended up at Fort Custer near Battle Creek, Michigan as part of the Military Police. One weekend at the post dance hall Joel would meet the love of his life Klazina Verhagen from nearby Kalamazoo. They were married in June of 1945 and after discharge Joel and Klazina would stay in Michigan for their remaining 63 years. They would raise two sons John and Charles. Joel worked for over 25 years at what started as the KVP Paper Company and retired from there when it was owned by Georgia Pacific in the late 70's. He was an avid and diverse hobbyist his whole life. His hobbies changed over the years and included photography, fishing, gardening, raising and showing champion rabbits, gem cutting and making primitive bows Archery. Joel will be remembered by those who knew and loved him as a loving and devoted husband and father and like his father before him honest, hardworking and a man of great integrity. Joel was honored for his military service at the War Memorial in his home town of Ovilla, Texas. Joel was preceded in death by his parents, infant brothers David and Wiley and his beloved wife of 63 years Klazina. Surviving are sons John Terri Steward and Charles Steward; grandsons, Shawn Kathryn Steward, Ryan Bobbie Steward, Christopher Steward and Ian Steward; sisters Mable Mosley Waxahachie, Texas, Hazel Mitchell Comanche, Texas and a brother Ward Steward Kaufman, Texas. Services will be held at 2:00 o'clock Saturday, September 27th at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. with Pastor Greg Silvey of the Bethlehem Baptist Church officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Mt. Ever-Rest cemetery. Friends may meet the family Friday evening, September 26th from 6-8 pm at the Portage Chapel. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joel's memory be made to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or Loaves and Fishes. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign the online register book, leave a condolence to the family and view Joel and Klazina's video tributes.