Obituary of Jolyon A. Stein

Jolyon A. Stein, 87, died on July 24, 2015, after living with MDS for a number of years. Joly was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on November 21, 1927, to parents, Bruno A. Stein and E. Virginia “Dainty” Stein (nee LeMay). He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 after graduating from high school and served until he was honorably discharged in 1946. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin and received his BS in Chemistry in 1950; his MS and PhD in Food Chemistry in 1954. After school, Joly joined The Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, working there for 34 years until his retirement in 1988 as Vice President of Quality. Joly was an avid outdoorsman and adventurer – if not crisscrossing the United States and Canada with his beloved wife Dona in his Piper airplane, houseboating on the Mississippi River, fishing or hunting with friends and family, you could find he and Dona enjoying the log cabin they hand-built in the North Woods of Minnesota. Maple syruping at their cabin every spring was a family tradition and served to introduce friends and family to the joys of nature. Joly made special efforts to share his passions individually with each of the grandchildren, usually a fishing trip in Manitoba or flights in his airplane. Joly served his community through St. Joseph’s Home, Habitat for Humanity and Angel Flight. He was a member of The Minneapolis Golf Club, The American Legion, Sigma Nu fraternity and AOPA. He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Dona L. Stein (nee Knowles); sons, Steven Stein (Carol) and Mark Stein (loving partner, Tracy Burlow); daughter, Karen Radosevich (Paul); as well as seven grandchildren, Terrence Stein (Katy), Patrick Stein (Annie), Adam Stein (Kelly), Peter Radosevich, Jillian Stein, Annie Radosevich and Mark Radosevich (fiancée Amber Allely); six great-grandchildren; sisters, Jinny Balentine of Prescott, Arizona, and Nancy Mohs (Tom) of Madison, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. John Seng and the staff of Allina Hospitals, as well as N.C. Little Hospice in Edina for their excellent care and compassion. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Minneapolis Golf Club on Sunday, August 9 from 4:30 to 7:30pm with a remembrance program at 6:30pm. Please bring your favorite Joly story to share. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Monday, August 10 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorials be sent to The Nature Conservancy or Canine Companions.