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 Clarence W. ‘Chick” Stessman, 85, passed away peacefully in Jefferson City, MO on May 6, 2025. He is survived by his three children, Eric Stessman (Betty) of Glendale, WI; Mary Stessman Chen (Lucas) of Jefferson City, MO; and Susie Stessman Fairley, (Preston) of Olathe, KS; and grandchildren Claire Chen (Joe Johnson), Grace Chen (Sawyer Gibbs), Rose Chen, and Teddy Chen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
 Clarence was born in Harlan, Iowa in 1939, the youngest of five children, to Theodore Stessman and Clara Stoll. He grew up in Omaha, NE, where he attended Creighton Preparatory High School and Creighton University on a basketball scholarship before transferring and ultimately earning a degree in Education from Peru State Teacher’s College in 1961. He was a member of the 1961 Men’s Basketball team, later named to the Peru State Sports Hall of Fame. While attending Peru State, Chick met the love of his life, Carol Joy Ellenberger. They married in August of 1961, settled in Kansas City, MO, and during their 18 years together, raised a family that brought them much happiness.
 Chick, or “Coach”, as he was often called, began his career as a basketball coach and teacher at St. Pius X High School, and later at Paseo High School. In 1970, he accepted the head coaching position at Liberty High School (LHS), and is credited with laying the foundation for a renowned program, which included the development of youth leagues for boys and girls, the annual “Bluejay Basketball Camp”, and the first invitational tournament hosted by LHS, which still takes place today. He was humbled to have the tournament re-named “The CW Stessman Invitational” several years later. During his final year as coach, The Bluejays were ranked number one in the state and played to overflow crowds for the first time in the school’s history.
 For most of his 30 year tenure at LHS, and after earning a Master of Education degree from Central Missouri State University, Chick was an Assistant Principal. In that role, he developed a groundbreaking in-school suspension program and was asked to speak on the subject at national conventions and other administrator training events. He particularly enjoyed his role as advisor to Liberty’s award-winning Student Council program. Upon his retirement, he stayed on at LHS in a unique role as the General Manager of KLHS, the school’s new television studio, which was later named in his honor. In 2016, he was inducted into the Liberty High School Hall of Fame. For him, there was no greater honor or joy than hearing from his former players and students whose lives he had impacted.
 Chick set an example of living life to its fullest, and enjoyed countless hobbies and passions including travel, art collecting, and following his favorite sports teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. A life-long lover and collector of music, Chick could truly lay claim to having seen Elvis Presley perform live in his blue suede shoes, in addition to Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and numerous other musical giants ranging from Luciano Pavarotti to the Beach Boys to AC/DC. He loved sharing his interests with his family and friends. If something was important to him, he made sure his loved ones appreciated it too. He had an uncanny ability to take the smallest of life’s moments and turn them into unforgettable events. For 20 years he hosted an annual golf tournament in his backyard that attendees are still talking about to this day.
 Above all else, Chick treasured family. He insisted on the keeping of numerous holiday traditions, coordinated many family reunions, and planned an unforgettable trip to Disney World for his siblings and their spouses in their later years. He relished the milestones in the lives of his children and grandchildren, and found the most unique ways to commemorate and celebrate them. His love was steadfast and his devotion, unwavering. He will be greatly missed.
 Per his wishes, a private family Celebration of Life will be held in Omaha, NE, and he will be laid to rest in Liberty, MO. The family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to the Liberty Education Foundation, 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO, 64068.
 Trimble Funeral Homes of Jefferson City, Mo, is assisting with arrangements.