Family members of the late Derek Stempa learned how big his family really was over the weekend.
More than 250 people attended a benefit party and silent auction Saturday night, according to Lori Mathwich, owner of Valhalla Hillside Inn near Tilleda, where the benefit was held.
Among the attendees were Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber and most of Stempa’s friends and colleagues with the county highway department and U.S. Army. All of the proceeds went to Stempa’s family, Mathwich said.
“It was just a variety of people — military people he served with in Iraq, friends from high school,” Mathwich said.
Valhalla Inn also held its annual Santa House from Friday through Sunday, which brought hundreds of people out to see Santa Claus and also benefited the family. The first two days went off without a hitch thanks to a little help from the elves, according to Mathwich, but the wagon rides from the toy shop to the Santa House had to be cancelled Sunday due to the rain.
Besides talking to Santa, children got to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and the families were able to take home photos from the experience.
Dale and Lori Breaker, of Tigerton, brought their two granddaughters to the Santa House for the first time. While the older girl, Sienna, was eager to share her list, her 20-month-old sister, Kyleigh, wanted nothing to do with the jolly old elf.
“It’s just something we like to do with the grandkids,” said Dale Breaker, who worked with Stempa at the highway department.
It normally takes five to six days to prepare the Santa House each year, according to Mathwich. Because of the addition of the evening benefit party for Stempa’s family, setup and preparation began almost two months ahead of time, she said.
Marcia Yeager, Mathwich’s mother — working under the alias of Mrs. Claus, noted that the support from people and businesses was amazing.
“This is a small town, but when you ask the businesses, they always support,” Yeager said. “This community always unites.”
Stempa was killed May 26 while working as a flagman in a construction zone at state Highway 47 and County Road G. He left behind a wife and two children.
Mathwich has a close connection with the Stempa family, being best friends since childhood with Stempa’s brother, Jim. The parents and grandparents for both families also were close, Mathwich said.
The Santa House has served as a fundraiser for various worthy causes the six years it has been in existence. Mathwich wanted to make sure proceeds helped the Stempa family this year, as she also served in the U.S. Army.
“We’ve lost people overseas, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff happen to people who were deployed, but this hit really close to home,” Mathwich said. “I feel worse for his kids. You see guys die who are single, but for someone to leave two kids behind, it really breaks your heart.
“For me, it’s pointing out that, after six months, we haven’t forgotten.”
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