Stephen F. Kranz

Stephen Kranz, 75, beloved partner, brother, father, uncle and grandfather passed away unexpectedly on June 6, 2025. Steve was a military-brat, born in Evansville, IL, while his father was stationed over- seas. As a child, he lived in Detroit and Alaska before his father retired from the military (with numerous WWII fighter-pilot medals) and moved to San Antonio, TX, where Steve attended Central High School and St. Mary’s College. He then joined the air force. Steve was a career Air Force Major who loved flying helicopters. During his 20 years in the Air Force he had tours of duty in Montana (Missile security), Iceland (Rescue missions), Washington (VIP escort, i.e., Casper Weinberger, Sec. of Defense in the Reagan administration), Germany (Desert Storm logistics), and training for numerous helicopters at Kirtland AFB. His last military assignment was as an esteemed college ROTC instructor in Alabama. But helicopters were his passion. He often said he was “the luckiest man alive” to have gotten that random assignment. After retirement from the Air Force, he took Masters classes at UNM to become a CPA. He was the top graduating student in his Accounting class. After graduation, he worked for various Accounting firms in Albuquerque before accepting a position at Sandia National Laboratories, where he worked for an additional 15 years. He met his career goal, retiring as a Division Business Administrator, leading a team of eight financial analysts. He loved riding his Harley motorcycle - so he could wear leather and feel “baaad.” But when he sat on the seat of his first Gold Wing motorcycle in 2011, he said it was like being back at the helicopter controls again. He and his partner in crime, Barbarba, enjoyed riding the Gold Wing cross-country for 12 years. They also enjoyed traveling, vacationing, and taking cruises. They made many happy memories. Steve had a brilliant mind and was forever researching and discussing topics to the nth degree. He lived by the Lone Ranger Code, which he memorized as a child and carried the code into adulthood. Steve enjoyed building model cars and airplanes; flying kites; and watching old westerns on TV. He was a friend and mentor to many of us who will miss him until our dying day. Superlatives include: brilliant conversationalist, handyman extraordinaire, old-fashioned gentleman, giant inside and out, generous to a fault, problem-solver, confidante, advisor. Steve leaves behind his loving partner of 14 years, Barbarba Jaramillo; his son, Ben (Heidi), daughter, Katie; granddaughters Zoe and Lauren; sisters Carol Lopez and Mary Myers (Bobby); nieces and nephews Stephanie (Jim), Michael (Danet), Thomas (Sophie) and Ali; and their families; aunts and uncles and numerous cousins; his very special, forever friends, Sam Mengrone and Richard Folks; and Mark Williams (Linda and Kelsey) ; and various school chums he had recently re-connected with. Steve was preceded in death by his mother and father, whom he adored. Per Steven’s wishes, cremation will take place and his ashes will be scattered “in the Gunnison” in Colorado where he enjoyed hunting and camping for many years. Services will be scheduled at a later time. Please visit our on-line guest book for Steve at DanielsFuneral.com.

The Lone Ranger’s Code

I believe…

that to have a friend, a man must be one.

that all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

that God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

in being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

that a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

that “this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, “ shall live always.

that men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

That sooner or later… somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

that all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone, lives on forever.

in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

Do YOU live by the Code?