Steve Sebestyen, age 86, of Rhinelander and formerly of Greendale, WI died Monday, September 18, 2006, at Taylor Park Nursing Home. He was born on September 26, 1919, in Milwaukee, WI to John and Helen (Popp)Sebestyen. Steve was employed for over forty years at Press Steel Tank Company in West Allis until his retirement in 1984. He married the former Mercedes Nolte on August 11, 1943, in Wood, WI. Together, they resided in Greendale for many years before moving to Delevan in 2004 and then to Rhinelander in 2006. Steve was an avid field trial trainer of English Springer Spaniels and is a member of the National Field Trials Hall of Fame. His dogs were very important to him and he earned many awards in field trials over the years. He was a founding member of the West Allis Training Kennel Club and was a member of other kennel clubs in Illinois. Steve is survived by his wife, Mercedes of Rhinelander; a son, James (Kathie) Sebestyen of Lake Tomahawk; a daughter, Margaret (Tom) Roerkohl of LaCrosse; one brother, John Sebestyen; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jon Sebestyen; a granddaughter, Michelle; and a brother, Geza Sebestyen. Funeral services for Steve will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at the Carlson Funeral Home (369-1414 / www.carlsonfh.com) with Rev. Robert Messerli officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of services on Wednesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Minocqua Memorial Cemetery.
Submitted by Marshall “JIM” Lightfoot
Steve C. Sebestyen
Sept.26, 1919-Sept 18, 2006
What can one say about Steve Sebestyen? Certainly, he was a shining example of what a bird dog field trialer should be, at times he could be abrasive, garrulous and even combative to a fault but always looking and thinks about the right thing for his beloved Springer’s and the field trial game in particular.
A working man most of his adult life Steve was what many people refer to as a “WEEK-END WARRIOR”. However, his action-filled weekends have always stretched into a seven-day job. He found time for over fifty years to be owner, breeder, trainer, handler, judge, club official, plus doing all the little jobs that needed to be done on both the local and national level. His kennel RUNNING BEAR was well respected and produced several field trial champions, including FC RUNNING BEAR, AFC LUDLOVIAN HAWK who was high point dog in 1964. Steve was never content to just run his dogs, his contribution to the dogs and the sport have involved many hour of labor with two of the oldest field trial clubs in Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club and the West Allis Kennel Training Club. He fought like a tiger for the West Allis Club, making sure that it got its proper field trial date, then along with several other individuals at trial time, made sure that everything went smoothly.
As said earlier, Steve was a judge of many field trials, including twice the National Championship, 1964 and 1983. He was selected to be the Field Trial Chairman for the National Championship in 1968 and again in 1973, but the one thing that Steve was the most proud of is that he was one of several individuals that were responsible for the Parent Club of the breed starting the NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP trial, the first being held in 1963. In 1964 he was elected General Chairman (President), and the Amateur Championship trial was held in Burlington, WI. And in 1979 Steve served Treasurer.
Steve C. Sebestyen was elected to and inducted into the National Bird Dog “Field Trial Hall of Fame” in 2003 in Grand Junction, Tennessee.
Submitted
Marshall “JIM” Lightfoot
