Steve Evans

Steven Lave Evans-our loving and admired husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend-departed sooner than we wanted, but in peace and with hope, on October 25, 2024. Though he hid behind the nickname Grumpa, Steven was kind, patient when he could help it, and had a wonderful and unique humor and glow that was contagious to all who knew him.
Steve, as he liked to be called, lived a life of service and absolute dedication to his family despite any trials, bumps in the road, and setbacks along the way. He was born on June 2, 1956, to his parents Kenneth and Jane Evans in Provo, Utah as the fourth of five children. He was a rambunctious and adventurous child who explored and enjoyed the beauties of the Utah valleys and mountains with his parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends-memories he would share fondly throughout his life.
He had a strong work ethic at a young age, a trait he would refine with everything he did. "If you're going to do something, do it right," he often said. As a youth, he was put to work in farms, at home in Provo and later American Fork, and throughout Utah County at the homes and lands of aunts and uncles. He adventured often with family and friends in the mountains and across the state where they regularly camped, hunted, and fished. But as he graduated from American Fork High School-go Cavemen-he was ready for a new adventure, joining the US Army and deploying to Germany.
It was there in Germany, just outside of Frankfurt in 1976, where he met the love of his life, the beautiful and adventurous Beate Schön, at what would be the most momentous party he ever attended. They almost lost contact afterward, but through good fortune on a Saturday afternoon at a lake, Beate found Steve's trail again and later reunited for what would be her greatest adventure. The two saw each other often, dancing late into the night at the numerous 1970s German discos. Steve returned to Germany after his deployment to work in Beate's family masonry business, Schön Steinmetz, until she returned with him to American Fork, Utah, where they were married on September 29, 1978.
Steve was a jack of all trades, including carpentry, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and more. If he didn't know how to do something, he learned it, applied it, and became exceptional at it. He wasn't afraid of difficult challenges and worked many types of jobs as he and Beate established themselves in American Fork. They had three children-Stephanie, Sean, and Trevor-between 1982 and 1988.
With his growing family, Steve took up work as a mechanic at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah while Beate continued working as a nurse as she had already done for many years. He took the family on many camping, fishing, and hunting adventures as he taught his children the things he loved so much to do. These interests included his favorite sports teams, the Jazz, Packers, Braves, and BYU, along with his love for oldies music, TV, movies, and more. Many of his family's fondest memories took place in the kitchen watching a game or show on the notably smaller kitchen TV despite there being a more comfortable couch and a larger TV in the other room. So much of family life revolved around eating food and enjoying experiences together, something we treasured with him all the way to the very end.
Steve began a career shift from trades to manufacturing and information technology after "reaching too far" to cut a post and finding himself with a saw blade running through his forearm. He kept the arm and continued working in home carpentry for several years while also getting a technical degree in robotics. After falling off another roof into a snowbank, he learned his final lesson and spent the final three decades of his career in manufacturing, technology, computers, networks, and servers. Still, he remained the handyman and expert for his children and grandchildren with their endless home projects and needs, something he loved doing and we greatly adored him for. There were few times better than working with Grumpa on a home project and pit stopping at the gas station for more Coca Cola, jerky, and sunflower seeds before more patient lessons from Steve on how to do things the right way.
Faith and belief were something that Steve contemplated throughout his life. He was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and in 2000 he was sealed to Beate and his children in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. He believed strongly in God's love and the power of forgiveness. He saw his own shortcomings and believed in giving others the benefit of the doubt. He treated people the same no matter who they were or where they came from. He was kind to strangers, noticed people who might be standing alone in a crowd, and always had a kind thing to say and a way to get a chuckle or at least a smile from almost anyone. When he had to give someone a hard time, he liked to add, "if you think I woke up this morning with the only goal of making your day miserable, you are mistaken."
Steve is survived by his wife, Beate, his children, Stephanie, Sean, and Trevor, their spouses Nick, Brittani, and Kristen, and his grandchildren Kayden, Maddux, Dylan, Mara, Logan, Avery, and Lincoln. He took such pride in his family-who they were and who they grew into. As it became their turn to serve him in his decade-long fights with heart disease, brain aneurysms, two cancers, and more, he remained positive, hopeful, and grateful for the life he had lived. He said, "I have no regrets. Please make sure you are there for mom." He always wanted to do more for us and relished in serving friends and family with the skills he had mastered throughout his life.
We wish we could have had more time with him, but we are so incredibly grateful for the time we had as he fought so many ailments to give us a few extra years by never giving up. We welcome you to celebrate the wonderful and courageous person Steve was and honor his memory with us.
Funeral services will be held on November 2, 2024, at 11:00 am at the Hillcrest 6th Ward Chapel, 1120 North 150 West, American Fork. A viewing will be held before the service from 9:00 am to 10:45 am. Interment will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Olpin Family Mortuary in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Condolences may be sent to the family at olpinmortuary.com.