Angels Camp, CA…Hugo Stelte passed peacefully at age 93 in his Davis family home surrounded by loving family members. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Paulette, daughter Olivia, son-in-law Adam Nash, grandchildren Alice & Austin, daughter Suzanne, son-in-law Scott Martindale, grandson Nicholas, son Patrick Stelte, stepson Daren Stone, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Gale & Elson St. John, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mark & Connie Oldfield and several family members in Germany.

Hugo was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn, his parents Sophia & Philipp, his sister Anneliese, brother Philipp, and children Elizabeth and Kurt.

Hugo was born in 1930 near Paderborn Germany; he immigrated to the United States in 1955 as a master cabinet maker and served 2 years in the United States Army in France. He owned and operated Stelte Construction Co. Inc. in Calaveras County for 52 years.

Hugo greatly enjoyed being with his family, playing soccer, riding Arabian horses, fishing for sturgeon in the Pacific Ocean, and sharing his building expertise with young carpenters as they developed their careers. He built numerous custom homes in Calaveras County, apartment buildings in San Andreas, and the Fire Station, Village Spa & Community Center, Creekside Professional Center, and Foothill Village Retirement Community, all in Angels Camp. He developed the Stelte Park Subdivision later in his career and built his first custom home there in 1984.

Hugo loved his building career, from laying the cement foundations to pounding the last nail; he relished his accomplishments and enjoyed a life well lived. He will be remembered for his building and billiard skills, his love of horses, and his enjoyment of “cookie time” with his grandkids!

Hugo’s Catholic faith was a driving force in his life—he attended daily Mass before school in Germany and throughout his life at parishes in Fort Wayne Indiana, Hayward, Murphys, Angels Camp, Sonora, and Davis California.

Hugo’s family is grateful to our friends and caregivers for their loving kindness, and thankful for our UC Davis Physician, Pauline Perez, Hospice RNs, and the Staff of Smith’s Funeral Home in Davis.

Services will be held at St. James Catholic Church in Davis, October 20th at 1 pm and at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Murphys on October 21st at 1 pm. A Family & Friends Celebration of Life will be held at the Historic Murphys Hotel after the St. Patrick’s church service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Red Cross to benefit victims of war, fire, and other disasters.