Donald Glen Stewart
He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, he spoke volumes. His message was always matter of fact, no unnecessary eloquence, and it was filled with truth, love, and purpose. And if you were lucky, he added a touch of humor at the end, followed by a wink or hidden giggle. His bark was much bigger than his bite, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were blessed to have spent many years with the softer, gentler version of the giant of a man that their parents told stories of. Donald Glen Stewart (85), of Magnolia, Texas, passed away with his loved ones at his side on October 4, 2023 in Georgetown, Texas. Don left a legacy of immense love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was deeply invested in their formation and success and showed his love by making it a priority to be present and involved in their daily lives, activities and celebrations. He told each of them on repeat, “You’re the best!” He meant it, and they cherished it.
He was born to Irene and Glen Stewart on May 31, 1938, the fifth of six boys, in Lincoln, Kansas. From humble beginnings and rugged rural living, he learned the value of hard work and family. While accompanying his brother to pick up livestock from her family farm, he met his future bride, Rita Louise Heiman. They were married on September 30, 1961 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit, Kansas, and started their family soon thereafter with the addition of a baby girl. As a young superintendent with Borton Construction, Don left the comforts of home in the Midwest and moved his family south to begin their adventure in Texas. The first stop was Amarillo, where Don built a grain elevator and then moved on to employment with C.H. Level Construction, where he supervised construction of the High Plains Hospital. While living there, he and Rita grew their family with the births of their oldest three sons. The next stop on their journey was a short stay in San Antonio, before settling in Houston where the company continued to tap into his hospital building expertise. His children recall that the family was packed up and ready to be transferred to Colorado for a new project, when Don came home with the news that he had taken a job with Spaw-Glass Construction. Over the course of the next 26 years, Don played a big part in building many of Houston’s landmarks. Along with his growing reputation for leadership and quality, his family grew with the additional births of their youngest daughter and son. His family was complete, but his impact on the construction industry in Texas was just ramping up. In 1992, at the pinnacle of a full career, Don took a risk to join his sons to form Stewart Builders and begin making a name for themselves in the greater Houston construction market as Keystone Concrete. For the next 31 years, “Mr. Stewart”, as he was respectfully referred to by employees and customers, was the driving force behind growing Stewart Builders into a family of seven different affiliated companies. A handful of initial employees grew to over 2500 members of the “family” that now includes offices in Georgetown and San Antonio. The diverse talents of the four owners created a synergy that allowed each owner to focus on specific operations of the company. Mr. Stewart was the “pusher” and the “numbers guy”. Any decision he needed to make came after some hefty calculations on the small 10-key calculator that was never far from his shirt pocket. Mr. Stewart had a profound impact on not only the people that worked for him, but also on the many peers he encountered throughout his career. His work ethic, attention to detail, respectful engagement, and fearless drive were a model and inspiration to others. At the age of 85 he was still driving himself to work, touring jobs, giving wise counsel to his partners, and providing mentorship to the next generation.
Throughout his many years of working hard to provide for his family, Don was equally focused on providing for his community and others in need. His example of charity and service notably started with his investment in the South County Football League in Spring, Texas, where he was instrumental in building and maintaining the fields that generations of children have enjoyed including his own. Don’s strong Catholic faith and its core principles guided his life of behind-the-scenes generosity and quiet, unrecognized service. He would always say yes to just about anyone, but especially those who shared his principles of faith, morality, and service. He had a huge heart and didn’t care about publicity or the limelight, only about doing what was right and living his life accordingly. He was passionate about supporting Catholic vocations and anyone called to serve the Lord. Those close to him knew his mantra of “give until it hurts”. He taught by example that blessings come with responsibility, and his family, friends, and employees followed his lead of recognizing those in need and coming to their aid through time, talent, and treasure. Don equally believed in his patriotic duty as a citizen of the United States. In striving for the promises of the American dream, he had worked hard and lived his life in accord with the tenets of civic responsibility. He was active in the political process, working to make our country the best it could be, and encouraged others to embrace their own duty to country.
Don also knew the importance of being a lifelong learner. Even though higher education had not been an option for him, he encouraged his children to attend college or trade school and continued that legacy with his grandchildren and any young person that sought his counsel. At the unexpected loss of his wife Rita, Don found comfort and purpose by once again putting his faith into action. As a testament to his wife’s specific passion for faith-based education, Don created the Stewart Family Catholic Education Fund in her honor. The outpouring of contributions was monumental, and the fund began to have an immediate impact on the lives of families needing tuition assistance. At Don’s insistence, most donations from the fund were made anonymously, and the families never knew of their benefactor. From his own personal wealth, Don grew the fund to a sizable endowment. He loved using the fund to memorialize Rita and provide assistance to countless deserving families and institutions.
In his final days, Don was surrounded by the love of family and friends while living life to the fullest. He enjoyed a weekend of wedding festivities, was undaunted about using an Apple watch to keep in contact with his many grandchildren, and planned to spend his usual day checking on jobs and dining with loved ones. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Irene, as well as his five brothers Harold, Harlin, Dale, Wayne and Thayne. He additionally suffered the loss of two of his children, Donald Craig and Lisa Stewart Wilmoth, and a grandson, Christopher Wilmoth. His greatest loss came with the passing of his beloved wife of 45 years, Rita Louise, in 2006. Don is survived by his remaining children Mark Alan (wife, Lisa), Bradley Scott (wife, Sandy), Leslie Stewart Dechow (husband, Scott), and Timothy Shawn (wife, Kim). He also leaves a legacy of 22 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and countless employees and industry peers that loved him dearly.
Friends and family will be received starting at 6:00pm on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Klein Funeral Home-Magnolia on FM 1488, with a Rosary beginning at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Don’s close friend Monsignor Louis Pavlicek, will take place at 11:00am on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station. A reception will immediately follow the Mass in the JPII Center on the campus of St. Mary’s. Those wishing to participate in the burial service can meet back with the family at 4:00pm at the Klein Memorial Park on FM 1488.
In keeping with the causes that Don held near and dear, remembrances can be made to the Stewart Family Catholic Education Fund or to the Helping a Hero Organization. Checks can be mailed to the Stewart Builders office at 23000 Northwest Lake Dr, Houston, Texas 77095, or you can contact a family member for assistance with making a memorial contribution.