Worcester- Ludwig S. Stepien, 80, of 52 Country Club Boulevard, died Saturday, Feb. 22, in St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center, after an illness.
His wife of 55 years, Marion C. (Fitton) Stepien, died in 1998. He leaves a son, Douglas A. Stepien of Charlton; a daughter, Marie A. Stepien of Snellville, Georgia; a sister, Kay DiReda of Worcester; Five grandchildren, Dominick Grampetro, Michael Grampetro, and Lisa Grampetro, all of whom he raised, and Lee Stepien and Sarah Stepien; 6 great grandhcildren. Five brothers, Alexander, Stanley, Joseph, Henry, and Chester Stepien, and four sisters, Wanda Rivers, Agnes Paradis, Victoria Bulak, and Genevieve Zalinsky, predeceased him. He was born in Worcester, son of Stanislaus and Aleksandra (Archacki) Stepien and lived here all his life. When he was 16, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and built roads in Mt. Kiarsage, New Hampshire, and Colorado for two years.
Mr. Stepien was a machinist at Wyman Gordon Company for 25 years, before retiring. He previously worked at New England Standard Lock Washer Company for 20 years.
He was a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Parish, Worcester Lodge of Elks #243, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legioin, Air Force Sergeants Association, United Steel Workers of America, American Association of Retired Persons, 313th Air National Guard Association, Singletary Rod & Gun Club in Sutton, National Association of Civilian Corps Alumni, and the Greendale Retired Mens Club.
Mr. Stepien was in the Air National Guard, 212th Electronic Installation Squadron, retiring as a Master Sergeant, after 29 years of service.
The funeral will be Wednesday, Feb. 26, from Henry-Dirsa Funeral Home, 33 Ward Street (www.worcesterfuneral.com), with a Mass at 9 a.m. in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 34 Ward Street. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2 Mount Royal Avenue, Marlboro, MA 01752.