Stephen Sheetz spent his life dedicated to his roots. Under his leadership as CEO and then chairman of the board of Sheetz Inc., the convenience store and gas station chain expanded its footprint and its offerings, introducing made-to-order food and technology upgrades that allowed the chain to flourish while keeping its family focus. 

“That it remained a family-run business was his goal,” says daughter Megan of her father, who created the Sheetz Family Council to bridge the gap between family members who work in the business with those who don’t. “It’s a way to drive unity and pride in the family business,” she says. “Having a multigenerational family business is very difficult; they tend to break down over time.” 

A mentor and counselor, Sheetz ’69 Bus was called “Coach” at work and was “the glue of the family,” Megan says. “People came to him with their problems, and he always had time for everybody.” 

The Penn State Altoona graduate—who met his wife, Nancy, when she walked into a Sheetz store where he was working—gave back to the university and Blair County in numerous ways. “He gave to a million different causes, often anonymously and very generously,” Megan says. The couple’s generosity created the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence and the Sheetz Fellows Program at Penn State Altoona. He served on the Penn State Board of Trustees, and he and Nancy endowed several scholarships for students who attend Penn State Altoona. “His tie to Blair County was almost spiritual,” says Megan. “All the business decisions he made were through that lens: What’s the best for Blair County?”

Sheetz died Jan. 4, 2026, in Altoona. Besides Nancy and Megan, he is survived by daughter Nicole Sheetz Frith, seven grandchildren, and five siblings.  —RR