LEWISTON – Anthony J. “Tony” Stelmok, 80, of Maple Hill Road, Auburn, died Thursday evening, Oct. 20, at St. Marguerite d’Youville Pavilion.

He was born on Aug. 16, 1925, to Vincent and Margaret Mason Stelmok in New Auburn, but his life revolved around the farm on Maple Hill Road, where he moved with his family at the age of 3 months and where he would live the rest of his life.

Growing up on the farm offered him plenty of interesting places to explore and even with five siblings, plenty of work to go around. He was educated in Auburn schools, graduating from Edward Little High School in 1943.

He married the love of his life, the former Helen J. Klimek of Lewiston, on Aug. 19, 1944, and brought his new bride to the family farm, acquiring it from his father in 1963. Together they raised two children, and despite a heavy workload, never lost sight of the finer things in life – family gatherings, as well as dancing, dining out and playing cards with friends.

He was an avid hunter as a young man, but gradually lost interest in the activity as he grew older.

He supplemented the income from the dairy farm by working in the woods, then by buying wood lots for a local operator. Eventually he earned his real estate broker’s license, focusing chiefly on land.

He belonged to St. Philip’s Catholic Church and was a 25-year member of the United Commercial Travelers Council 160.

He is survived by and will be greatly missed by his devoted wife, Helen; two children, Linda Bickford and her husband, Les, of Maple Hill, and Gerald Stelmok of Atkinson; three grandchildren, David, Kristin and Holly; several nieces and nephews; and Callie, his white terrier, “The smartest dog in the world.” He had many great friends and neighbors who will also miss him.

He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters, Anita, John, Lydia, Frank and Helen.

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