Stephanie Farmer Witzel, 73, of Arcata, passed away on January 6, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones. She is survived by her husband, Bill Witzel; her son, Thomas Witzel; her daughter-in-law, Tayler Rutter; her grandson, Benjamin Witzel; and her siblings, Terry Farmer and Michele Tomlin.

Stephanie was born on April 12, 1952, in Sacramento, to Roberta and Ronald Farmer. She was the second of three children, growing up alongside her older brother Terry and younger sister Michele. She spent her early years in Sacramento and later attended Humboldt State University, where she first fell in love with the natural beauty of Humboldt County. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources, a passion that stayed with her throughout her life and ultimately led to her becoming a Master Gardener.

Stephanie later pursued her CPA, building a distinguished career as an accountant. She worked with organizations including the California Cut Flower Commission, the County of Humboldt and eventually served as Chief Financial Officer of Dell’Arte International, where her intelligence, integrity and work ethic were deeply respected.

Only six months after they met in Sacramento, Stephanie and Bill were married in 1982. They adopted Thomas in 1994, and looking for a change of pace and a more family-friendly place to raise a child, Stephanie, Bill and young Thomas moved to Humboldt County in 1997 — a place Stephanie already loved and quickly made her home. Almost immediately, she became deeply involved in the local community. Beyond serving on the Boards of Directors for Dell’Arte, Friends of the Dunes and as a Deacon at Arcata Presbyterian Church, Stephanie volunteered countless hours with numerous local organizations. As her husband Bill often said, Stephanie had a “spring-loaded arm” — she was always the first to volunteer, to help, to organize and to lead.

Stephanie was kind, caring, generous and, above all, tenacious. She never met a challenge she didn’t believe she could solve, a cause she didn’t want to fight for, or a stranger who wasn’t a friend within 10 minutes. She loved the outdoors, new experiences and squeezing every ounce of joy from life. Stephanie was never content to sit still - she continually sought out new challenges, enrolling in weaving, dance and painting classes; traveling to new countries; attending new events; and always pushing her horizons into new territory.

Above all else, Stephanie cherished her family. She was an anchor for her extended family, ensuring that connections were never lost and that no one drifted too far away. She fiercely loved her immediate family - she was a devoted wife to Bill, a loving and supportive mother to Thomas and a joyful, doting “Tutu” to her grandson Benjamin. Her love was returned to her many times over. Stephanie’s warmth, energy and unwavering commitment to the people and places she loved will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

The family will be holding a memorial and celebration of life for Stephanie on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Arcata Presbyterian Church (670 11th Street, Arcata). All are welcome, and we encourage guests to bring baked goods or finger foods to share at the reception.

The family is also planning an additional celebration of life in the summertime, allowing far-flung friends and family more time to plan travel and gather in Humboldt. More details will be shared as they are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation in Stephanie’s honor to a cause she deeply believed in. Links are provided below for Dell’Arte International and the Arcata Presbyterian Church, two organizations that meant a great deal to Steph and that she would have loved to continue supporting.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Stephanie Witzel’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.