Steven Thomas "Steve" Eide

1948 - 2025

Steven "Steve" Thomas Eide

January 27, 1948 - May 20, 2025

Steven (Steve) Thomas Eide, age 77, of La Crosse, passed away May 20, 2025, peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family, after a brief and fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve was born January 27, 1948, in Viroqua, Wis., to Ann (Everson) and Thomas Eide. He was raised on his family homestead farm in Folsom, Wis., moving after high school to attend and graduate from the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse.

He married the love of his life, Linda Larson, who he would lovingly say was "born too cute", on July 24, 1971. At their wedding, the minister asked the church to pray for the groom as he was unemployed. Steve would then spend his life working to give Linda a life of abundance. Steve and Linda were happily married for 54 years, but would say they loved each other for a thousand. Together they had four children, and raised their family in La Crosse, Wis.

For over 40 years, Steve served as the Executive Director of Coulee Youth Centers, Inc, a non-profit dedicated to providing substance abuse and other mental and behavioral health therapies, adolescent treatment group homes and foster homes, as well as First Call for Help for the Coulee Region. In addition to his primary occupation, he maintained and grew his family farm, dairy herd and crops for decades after his father passed, and built an expansive real estate business that remains in operation today. He coached summer baseball and basketball teams and never missed his kids' events. He taught his kids to be brave, question authority, advocate for others, always fight for the underdog, and stressed to never back down from a bully. He wanted his kids "to have fun just not get their name in the newspaper". He took late night phone calls to deal with broken hearts or provide pep talks (from his children as well as people he had only met once). He taught hard lessons with the softest of hearts, and forgave easily, always one more time. He was the World's Best Dad.

He was most immensely proud of his wife and his children, and shared their accomplishments with anyone who would listen. He treasured his friends, colleagues and Eide Properties team. While he took on many roles in his life, arguably his favorite was Papa. He adored his grandchildren, and they adored him. No one could make them smile and laugh more. He gave his family huge love.

Through his success, he always strived to put back into the community the good he felt he received in life. He exemplified service over self. His commitment to social service bled into his real estate business. He was passionate about mental health, providing affordable housing and helping people. He was strong in his faith and believed and often quoted Matthew 25: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did not do for me.

He lived his life out loud, and had an innate ability to immediately connect with everyone he met, approaching everyone as a friend. He gave compliments freely. He was a born storyteller, drawing crowds reminiscing about the Kickapoo, his baseball days and home runs (rounding the bases backwards in his signature "cadillac trot") and drag racing country roads. He "table hopped" at restaurants, readily learning the life stories of strangers and offering them life advice… and sometimes a free place to stay.

Steven is survived by his wife, Linda; children: Jessica, Annie (Sean Parker), and Emily; granddaughters: Sloane and Larson Parker; sister, Ruth Ann Ward; brother-in-law, Mike Whitfield; sister-in-law, Karen Larson (Rene Christesen).

He was preceded in death by his son, Eric; parents, Tom and Ann Eide; Alfred and Ardus Larson; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Donna (Larry) Van Fleet, Sonja Whitfield, and Marlene (Chester) Ostrem; Nelson Ward and Ronald Larson.

His family will miss him all the moments. He was larger than life. They are comforted that he is once again with his son, Eric. He often ended his days telling his family, "thanks for the day". Steven T - thanks for this life.

"What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." - Albert Pine

Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 30th, at 12:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 233 West Avenue S., La Crosse. The Rev. Dr. J Taylor Haley will officiate. Friends may visit with the family at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service, and a reception will follow from 1:45 to 4 p.m. at the Cargill Room, The Waterfront Restaurant, 328 Front Street South.

Memorials may be made out to The Steven T. Eide Memorial Fund and the family will disburse the funds to various social services organizations throughout the community.