STEPHEN DES MARAIS

Stephen Sidney Des Marais, age 56 of Neenah, died Tuesday, November 2, 2010. He was born in Neenah April 24, 1954, to Nancy (Kimberly) and the late Hubert H. Des Marais. Steve had a strong work ethic and a great love of responsibility. He worked at Lakeside Packaging Plus in Neenah from the time of his graduation from high school until shortly before his death. As young man, Steve was an accomplished athlete who won a gold medal in both Special Olympics Bowling and Special Olympics Swimming in the butterfly. He loved listening to country music and was an avid Packers and Badgers fan. ARC and Special Olympics provided opportunities for joy and fun into Steves life whether through dances or his annual summer stay at Camp Onaway. ADVOCAP and SAIL provided Steve with community interaction and companions who became his good friends. In recent years Steve lived at Clarity Cares State Street group home in Neenah. He greatly appreciated the staff and his companions there. He also enjoyed close ties to his family, and often participated in family vacations in Door County, traditional family holidays, and informal get-togethers with his siblings, nieces, and nephews. Steve also had a fondness for and an ability to work well with family pets. Stephen is survived by his mother, Nancy Des Marais; his siblings: Elisabeth Des Marais; Anne (Don Vought) Des Marais; Rob (Eimie) Des Marais; Katherine Des Marais; his nieces and nephews: Lucas, Nina, Emily, and Mari Vought; Maria Des Marais; and Scott Des Marais. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Hubert H. Des Marais. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 6, 2010, 11:00 A.M., at Westgor Funeral Home, Neenah, with The Reverend Dottie Mathews officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. Saturday until the hour of service. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Stephens name may be made to ARC, Special Olympics, or the Alzheimers Association of Wisconsin. Stephens family would like to extend a warm thank you to all his friends at State Street: Bob, Dennis, Richard, Jeffrey, Daniel; his wonderful caregivers, past and present, who gave him so much love and independence: Anne Leach, Chad, Sheila, Brittany, Jamie, Lesley; all the folks at Clarity Care: Barb Salemi, Carla Brunn-Alferi, Sandy Detert; everyone at Lakeside Packaging, especially Tom, Mary, and Krystal, and Margaret Winn; everyone at ARC and with Special Olympics; Winnebago Countys Kim Tassoul; and also his caregivers at SAIL: Melissa, Tami and Patricia. Lastly, special thanks go to his nurses in Theda Clarks ICU: Jen and Eric; Dr. Dave of Palliative Care and Beth Du Chateau from hospice who brought such comfort to Steve.