Steven Carl "Steve" Reeger

Steven Carl Reeger

March 29, 1946~March 05, 2026

Steven Carl Reeger, 79, of Palm Coast, Florida (most recently Holiday, Florida), passed away on March 5, 2026, 525 days after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on March 29, 1946, he was the third of four children born to George and Edith Reeger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his nephew, Daniel Ruckoldt; his brother-in-law, Wally Bray; his sister-in-law, Phyllis Reeger; his grandson-in-law, Wayne Robbins; and his first wife, Mary (Hardt) Davis.

He is survived by his daughters, Eileen Reeger, Dianne Reeger, and his chosen daughter Jill (Billy) Snyder; his siblings, Dianne Bray, Susan Reeger, and Paul Reeger; and his second wife, Jan Reeger. He is also survived by his nieces Julie (Ken) Miller and Tanya (Donald) Richards; his nephews Chris (Allie) Ruckoldt and Matt (Joy) Ruckoldt and their children; and a vast network of chosen family and friends. Also mourning his loss is Ivy Mae Addison Reeger, his beloved cat.

Over his lifetime he held many roles: son, brother, nephew, grandson, husband, dad, uncle, cousin, and friend-but his absolute greatest joy was earning the rank of grandfather. He often joked he would have skipped parenthood entirely if he could have gone straight to the role of "Poppa." He leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Georgia (Kosuke) Nakajima, Lachlan Kennedy, Joseph (Desirea) O'Brien, Amber (Patrick) Ballou, Brandy Robbins, Carissa Pond, and Jessie Tillman. He was the proud "Great Poppa" to Lily Nakajima, Jackson and Emery O'Brien, Elyjah Boria, Jonas and Scarlet Ballou, Annaleise, Landon, and Adeline Robbins, and Tristan Ritter.

His early childhood and teenage years were spent getting into trouble with his baby brother and doting on his older sisters in the northwest suburbs of Illinois. He sang in the choir, competed as a pole vaulter in high school, and learned to garden, fish, and work hard. He also learned that his mother always knew when he was lying-even if it was only because of a speck of paint on his face.

At the age of 19, on March 7, 1966, he landed on the doorstep of the Naval Recruit Processing Center in Chicago to begin a six-year adventure in the United States Navy. During that time, he served aboard the USS Wilkinson (DL-5), later the USS Noa (DD-841), USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713/DDR-713), and USS Perry (DD-844), working in the E Department as an interior communications electrician. During his service he traveled through the Straits of Gibraltar, earned his "Royal Shellback" status by crossing the equator in January 1967, and later saw his brother earn his own Shellback status when they served aboard the same ship. He and Paul were also chased by a mad elephant in the Tsavo Game Preserve in Kenya and saw ports ranging from St. Thomas to Senegal. He served his country until December 3, 1971. Even on his last day he expressed that it was his honor to serve his country.

His final duty station was in Mayport, Florida, where his wife and two young daughters (Eileen and Dianne) led him to choose an honorable discharge. He moved his family back to the northwest suburbs of Illinois to be near his tight-knit family. After living in Crystal Lake for a short time, he made Cary his home and raised his family in one of the first subdivisions he helped build, Greensfield.

Steve spent the next 40-plus years as a home builder, building a community of close friends and chosen family along the way at both Pulte Homes and ICI Homes. He and Mary divorced in 1990, and he made a fresh start in South Florida, where he eventually met his second wife, Jan, and chosen daughter, Jill. As grandchildren started coming into the picture, Steve and Jan decided to move closer to the Florida kids and landed in Palm Coast, Florida, where he spent the next 22 years.

Steve was an avid golfer and loved fishing. While his father was alive, he and his brother took him on an annual pilgrimage to Hawk Lake Lodge in Ontario, Canada. After retirement he spent a great deal of time in his woodshop making gifts for friends and family. You're very lucky indeed if you own a "Poppa Steve Original." He also loved experimenting in the kitchen and earned himself the nickname "The Tin Chef."

He loved his family fiercely and was especially close with his siblings. He loved a good joke-and sometimes a bad one-three fingers of Scotch, sushi dinners, gardening, hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows, and yelling out the wrong answers while watching Jeopardy! He was gregarious, loving, sentimental, and generous.

His ability to orchestrate surprises was uncanny. He was often the life of the party and usually also the ringleader. He loved hosting holidays, birthdays, and dinners-and during the years in Cary, an epic Independence Day BBQ every year. Someone always landed in the pond behind the house before the end of the day. In 1976 he and his brother hosted a Bicentennial bash that lasted three days, and years later people who lived near the farmhouse still shared stories of wayward party attendees with his family.

Lastly, he was a lifelong Cubs fan and finally shared the joy of their World Series win in 2016. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but we take comfort in knowing he now has the best seat in the house for every Cubs game.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Steve's memory to a charity of your choice, preferably one that supports veterans or helps feed hungry families.

Two celebrations of Steve's life will be held-one in Palm Coast, Florida, and one in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Details will be shared once the arrangements are finalized.