Stephen Eder

"I am just the living legacy to the leader of the band."
The lyrics are a loving tribute from a son to his father by Dan Fogelberg, and Steve's favorite song.
Steve Eder passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2025, while visiting his home in Bremerton, Washington. He was the oldest son born to Kenneth Eder of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and his wife Patricia David of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the son of a U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, Steve and the Eder family moved frequently between naval bases along the eastern seaboard. They lived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and finally settled in Bremerton, Washington. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth (2011); his mother, Patricia (2021); his brother, Brian Eder (2005), and Brian's partner, Bobby Jorgensen (1998).
Steve's life was a testament to love and belonging. He grew up playing team sports; it was always a way to get outside and move but also to learn valuable life lessons and develop community. When his father was reassigned to Michigan, he met his lifelong friend: Joseph O'Malley. They enjoyed competitive sports against each other, music, and learning about everything in between. When his father was reassigned to Bremerton, Washington, Steve remained in Grand Rapids with the O'Malley family in order to graduate from East Grand Rapids High School. This was the one of many acts of kindness shown to Steve that altered the course of his life.
Ann Arbor, Michigan was where Steve went on to dig deeper roots after graduating from Eastern Michigan University. He had a love of softball and participated in many legendary games with the Ann Arbor and Livonia classic rec leagues. As well, he began his career at the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, the same company he would retire from after 44 years!
At AATA, Steve worked as a Driver and then as the Safety, Security, and Training Supervisor. During this time, his colleagues became more like family. Steve had a special connection to every department at the company. They supported one another through tough times, created memories on vacations, and celebrated each others' milestones.
In 1988, Steve met the love of his life, Joyce Wilson. They shared similar values for family, volunteerism, friendships, music, reading, and sports. They went on to raise three beautiful children, Breanna, Daniel, and Michael and one chocolate lab, Maddie. Steve also inherited a large Wilson and law enforcement extended family. Steve loved traveling with his family and often sang songs to them with his acoustic guitar.
Steve's love for music was a reflection of his passion and creativity. He loved playing the acoustic guitar. While many people remember Steve's Garden tour, few were lucky enough to be serenaded under the stars by his backyard pop-up concerts. Commonly played tunes included "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles and several self-composed songs. Similar to sports, the lyrics from music inspired Steve to do the right thing, love deeply, and forgive often.
Sports was always about the people, which is why Steve was so good at them. He loved the Philadelphia Phillies, where his mother worked briefly. Within the last three years he was able to attend the 2022 World Series AND see his Philadelphia Eagles win the 2025 Superbowl. He celebrated their win with his hilarious video performance (see a family member for more).
Many will remember Steve as the most compassionate man they knew. He never missed an opportunity to hug a heavy heart, offer a ride to someone who missed the bus, or bring people together. He believed that our similarities were more significant than our differences.
You didn't need to know Steve long to love him. His sense of humor was infectious and there were no dull moments with him. Many of these moments created great Eder stories that his loved ones will laugh and cry about for years to come.
Life happens fast, but Steve made us all slow down to appreciate living in the present. We will miss Steve and, as the leader of our band, his memory will live on forever.
Steve is survived by his wife, Joyce; his three children, Breanna (Igor), Daniel (Raghad), and Michael (Ki'Re); his siblings, David Eder of Bremerton, WA, Susan (Todd) Eggers of Port Orchard, WA, and Kenneth Eder (Veronica Ouellette) of Orlando, FL; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
A memorial service will be held for Stephen Eder at Nie Funeral Home-Liberty Chapel, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, MI, on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:00 am.
Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to one of his choice organizations:
Kitsap Tennis and Athletic Center
They support tennis programs for low-income children, a cause that was close to Steve's heart as he believed in the power of sports to transform lives – OR donate to your local high school "pay to play" scholarships.
Washtenaw Literacy
The Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan
The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, Michigan
A special thank you to our AATA family, the tennis communities of Ann Arbor and Bremerton, and everyone who reached out to the Steve Eder family for food, flowers, and kind messages of support during this unimaginable loss.