Mary Stech

May 4, 2024

Mary Helen Pekman Stech went home to be with the Lord on May 4, 2024. She was 69 years old. She was a source of inspiration with the resilience and positive spirit she exhibited throughout her nine-month battle with cancer. Mary bravely battled cancer with unwavering courage and strength until the very end.

Mary leaves behind her husband, David, who was by her side every day of her fight. She is also survived by two brothers: John Howard Pekman of Vista, Calif., and William Martin Pekman of Hickory, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Clara Elizabeth; and father, Alfred Edward.

She was born in Walnut Creek, Calif., in 1955, and came to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1969 with her family from Portland, Ore. She graduated from Lathrop High School in 1971. She worked on the Alaska pipeline as a warehouse person at the Coldfoot Camp until the end of construction of that project. She later worked as a long distance telephone operator for Alascom, first in Fairbanks, and later in Anchorage.

Following her retirement as a Teamster, she joined Span Alaska Transportation as an account manager. Throughout her almost 25-year career with that company she forged lasting relationships with customers, earning their trust with her exceptional communication skills and consistent follow-through. She approached every challenge with determination, always striving to exceed expectations and deliver results that made both her colleagues and customers proud.

She met David, the love of her life, while enrolled in his classes at the UAF Department of Music. They were married in Fairbanks in 1985 and were inseparable.

Cards may be sent to Dr. David Stech at P.O. Box 81169, Fairbanks, AK 99708.