Steven Paul Bush

1963 - 2021

Steven Paul Bush

December 31, 1963-January 22, 2021

Steven Paul Bush, 57, of Milan, left to become a warrior in heaven on Friday, January 22, 2021, at Unity Point Trinity, Rock Island. His departure was unexpected, yet encircled by family and prayer.

Steve was born on December 31, 1963, in Rock Island, to Kenneth E. and Marilyn (Whitton) Bush. Steve graduated from Alleman High School in 1982. He married his high-school sweetheart, Julie Renee VandeVoorde, on June 29, 1985, in Coal Valley, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986.

Following his heart and in his father's footsteps, Steve's career started out in farming. Steve and Julie were named Outstanding Young Farm Couple of 1992 by the Illinois Farm Bureau. While perks of the job included lunch picnics in the field with his wife and kids, when the farm economy got the best of them, in 1992 Steve and Julie started Bush Turf. The endeavor-built on faith and hard work-grew from residential lawns and businesses to his construction of the TPC Deere Run Golf Course in East Moline. Beyond that, Steve moved on to renovate Major League Baseball, football and soccer fields, high school and collegiate fields and even the Field of Dreams. Steve and Bush Sports Turf have won multiple awards throughout the years, including the Golden Cleat Award from the Iowa Sports Turf Managers Association, and both state and national Field of the Year awards. Steve highly valued his devoted employee team members and treated them as family.

Steve was a Certified Sports Field Manager and Certified Field Builder, and a frequent contributor to "Sports Turf Magazine." He was a member at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Andalusia, actively involved in his parish and Cursillo, a supporter of Alleman High School, and a devout fighter for the defense of unborn life. Steve and Julie were heavily involved in redeeming the new building of the Women's Choice Center.He enjoyed inventing and holds several patents. When not actively building fields or gadgets, Steve was building ponds, swing sets, and years of perfect memories for his family, which include his wife, Julie; children, Sarah (Tyler) Graybill, Wauconda, IL, Nathan (Chelsea) Bush, Bettendorf, and Amanda (Levi) Schilling, Davenport; grandchildren, Esme, Madeline and baby Graybill; Adeline, Norman and Audrina Bush; Evelyn, Julia and baby Schilling; mother, Marilyn Bush, Milan; sisters, Teresa (Timothy) Dunbar, Cumming, IA, and Karen (Mark) Jackson, Milan; and brothers, Kevin (Melinda) Bush, Northville, MI, and Martin Bush, Rock Island.

Steve's greatest joy was the love of his life, Julie, and their adventures both close to and far from home with family and friends. His second greatest joy were his days spent outdoors in the sunshine (often cooking, grilling, goofing off or riding the Gator), with his children and grandchildren-who called him BopBop. Faith, family and friends were his greatest joy.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Bush.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, February 1st, 2021 at 12:00 pm at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. Private burial will be at a later time. Public Visitation will precede the service from 9:30 AM -11:45 AM at St. Pius. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Women's Choice Center, Bettendorf, Iowa, or to Alleman Catholic High School, Rock Island.

Memories and support may be left at www.RaffertyFunerals.com. Prayers are deeply appreciated.