Steven Peter Wilcenski

Steve Wilcenski – Blissfield, MI - 78, died December 30, 2025, after an extended illness. Steve was the son of the late Peter Stanley Wilcenski and Eugenia Mae Cagle Wilcenski.

After graduating from Leslie High School in 1965, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged after serving his country for three years during the Vietnam War. If he had one regret, it was not remaining in the service. Post military, he served as a sheriff's deputy for Jackson County, Waterloo Township. Marriage and family compelled him to change careers. Steve received an associate degree from Jackson Community College, and later a bachelor's degree in computer science from Southern Polytechnic State University in Atlanta, GA.

Steve became an amazing software engineer who worked in many industries including healthcare, construction, telecommunications, and banking. Anyone working with him held him in the highest regard for his analytical, resourceful, meticulous, and expert technical competencies. He possessed a strong moral compass and sense of integrity, led by example, was open-minded, proactive, incredibly intelligent and disciplined.

His greatest joy was writing. He wrote numerous unpublished short stories, poems, and a novel. He shared many of his stories through his blog.
Steve was a private person, doing for others without recognition. Without hesitation, he made the tough choices and sacrifices, enduring the hard times and celebrating the good times, providing and making life better for the people he loved. He often displayed a gruff exterior earning him the nickname STEBEAR, but once you cracked the shell you could not find a more loving, loyal, and friendly guy. He knew he was a tough cookie because he created his own grandfather name of GRUMPER.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Thombley Wilcenski, sisters Jana Estey (Dan) and Sherri Rybicki (Steve), brothers Mitch Wilcenski and Franz Meredith Wilcenski (Colleen), children Peter Benjamin Wilcenski of Cleveland, TN, Crista Leigh Andrews (Robert) of Statham, GA, Natalie Smith Thompson (Scott) of Riga, MI, and Nathan Allen Smith of Macon, GA, his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held January 31, 2026, at 2pm at the Riga Township Hall (7817 Riga Hwy. Riga, MI 49276).

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Hospice of Lenawee (www.hospiceoflenawee.org) or Ogden Church in Adrian, MI (www.ogdenchurch.org).