Steven Lillya

1952 - 2025

Steven Wayne Lillya, 72, of Davis, California, passed away this summer surrounded by family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. His unwavering strength and love for his family were an inspiration to all who knew him.

Steve was born on October 17, 1952, in Denver, Colorado, to Edward Hugh (Hugo) Lillya and Germaine Emma Wieland. His father's parents, Gustaf Hildemar Jonsson Lillya and Hilma Elisabet Karlsson Holm, emigrated from Sweden in 1907. His mother's grandparents emigrated from Germany to New Ulm, Minnesota. Steve grew up alongside his three sisters, Judy, Terry, and Betty, enjoying an active childhood filled with neighborhood games, sledding, and adventures in the olive groves behind the family home.

His early years were spent in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, before the family moved to Sacramento, California, in 1961. He attended Skycrest Elementary, Kingswood Elementary, Andrew Carnegie Junior High, and graduated from San Juan High School, where he served as Junior Class President and later as Student Body President. Steve was also a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and acolyte at Advent Lutheran Church.

Steve attended Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento), majoring in Parks and Recreation and becoming president of the particularly colorful Ski Club, who (if the rumors can be believed) did from time to time find themselves on the slopes. Jokes aside, his tenacity for organization would lead to a career in recreation from southern California back up to the Sacramento region. It also carried through to his dating life. On a first date with future wife Monica, Steve made sure to show up on time by arriving fifteen minutes early and rounding the block several times just to knock on the door at 7 o'clock sharp.

Steve and Monica Marian Streng married on August 26, 1989, at Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights. Together they raised two sons, Mark William and Shane Edward.

Building a career managing Stonegate Country Club in Davis, CA, Steve could start the day in the office, spend the afternoon shoulder-deep in an irrigation trench, pick up his sons from school, and still appear at an evening board meeting.

He was known for his protectiveness, generosity, and remarkable event-planning skills that somehow always turned the impossible into reality. He managed intricate projects, kept complex finances in order, and organized family vacations with binders of laminated Map Quest directions. At work, he led-up Stonegate's annual Crab Feed, Holiday Party, and 4th of July Celebration – somehow he always fit five hundred people in twenty three parking spots.

A month after his first grandchild was born, at seventy years old, Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A famously challenging diagnosis, this malady has a median survival time of six to twelve months. But Steve was always one to aim for the impossible. He set his sights on celebrating that first Christmas after diagnosis, and after enjoying it, he celebrated a second Christmas, and then a third. During this time, "Pop-Pop" met another two grandchildren and had pancakes ready for them every Friday morning.

Steve is survived by his wife of 36 years Monica; sons Mark (wife Emily) and Shane (wife Alisen); three cherished grandchildren, Beatrice, Henry and Adalyn; sisters Judy, Terry, and Betty; and many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and amazing friends from Davis to Denver, Vancouver Island to Fiji.

A celebration of Steve's life will be held on November 2, 2025, at Stonegate Country Club in Davis, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve's honor to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network)) at PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org" target="_new" rel="nofollow">PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org.

Steve will be remembered for his kindness, leadership, sense of humor, and devotion to his ever-growing family. His legacy will live on in the lives he touched.