Stephen Richard Steele

Steve Richard Steele 1931 ~ 2009 Stephen (Steve) Richard Steele, beloved husband, father, and grandpa, 78, was called home to his Heavenly Father on November 12, 2009, after a short illness. He was born in Ogden, Utah on October 18, 1931 to Iris Mildred Kopp and James Alexander Steele. On the very same day that Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, left this world, Steve, our brightly shining light, entered. In 1949, Steve was proud to graduate from Ogden High School, where he enjoyed ROTC and first began to develop his woodworking talents. Steve served in the United States Army in Korea during the Korean War. To the end of his life, he took pride in this service to the country he loved. He met the love of his life, Suzanne Lee Baker, at a dance on November 14, 1967. They eloped to Elko, Nevada, and were married on January 12, 1968. A federal employee for 32 years, Steve retired from Hill Air Force Base in 1986. Steve searched for the truth for many years, and finally found peace when he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1987. Steve and Suzanne were sealed for time and all eternity to each other and to their daughters, on August 20, 1988 in the Salt Lake Temple. Some months after the birth of his youngest daughter in 1989, he returned to the workforce. Steve worked at Utah Medical Products until retiring again in 1996. Though finding it later in life, Steve always found comfort in his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Steve's last calling was serving as secretary of the high priest group in his ward. His quiet example of service and diligence was no better served than in home teaching, a responsibility that he honored and loved. He had a lifelong love of books and learning, and passed this love onto his children and grandchildren. In addition to reading biographies, military history books, and mystery novels, Steve was also passionate about history, a love his daughters shared. Knowledgeable about carpentry and skilled with his hands from work as a young adult, Steve singlehandedly remodeled many parts of his home. Steve enjoyed woodcarving and leatherwork and wanted to open his own shop to sell these one-of-a-kind gifts. He loved putting together jigsaw puzzles, as well as solving word search puzzles. A practical joker by nature, Steve leaves us with a legacy of love, laughter, hard work, and service. Steve is survived by his wife, Suzanne; his three daughters, Jenny Schmith (fiancé Chad Asay), Laura, and Sally; his four grandchildren, Marina, Gabriel, Alexander, and Jedidiah; our friends who called him Dad; his loving extended family; and his faithful cat, Lady. We are so grateful that Steve is now reunited with his mother, who passed away when he was a teenager, his father, who followed her five years later, and his siblings, two of whom also died when Steve was young. We can only imagine the joy of their long-awaited reunion. Funeral Services will be Wednesday November 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Winder West Stake Center, 1250 East 4530 South. Viewings will be held Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn, 3401 Highland Dr., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the family would be appreciated.