Steven Studer

1945 - 2024

Steve Studer Big Man - Big Life

Steven H. Studer, son of Julius P. and Minnie (Willemina) H. Studer, nee Scheppmann was born on April 4, 1945 in Algona Iowa. Steve was the 11th child and was followed by 3 younger siblings. He died at home in Irwin, IA, under hospice care on August 5, 2024 at age 79.

From 1st grade through 2 advanced degrees, Steve attended Catholic schools, beginning at St Joseph's in Wesley, IA, then with the first graduating class of Bishop Garrigan in Algona, and finally, to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. At Garrigan, Steve played trombone, was in theater (where he got to kiss a girl live on stage!), and athletics - of all sorts. He played baseball, basketball and football. Football was his first love - and the sport that would take him to college at the University of St. Thomas, where he played for the Tigers while he got his BA. While pursuing a MA, Steve moved to coaching football and basketball at various schools in the Twin Cities. Steve's teaching career first took him to St. Paul Central High school, where he taught English and coached both football and girl's basketball. In 1976, Steve coached the basketball team to the first girl's BB championship in Minnesota history.

In the late '70s, Steve was working toward an Ed. S degree when he took a class from Don Hovland - a man who would change Steve's life. Don, principal at Stillwater Jr. High School recruited Steve and the two of them remained working partners for nearly 25 years - they were legendary. The two men led their school to National Exemplary status twice which was one of the proudest events in Steve's career. Steve and his colleagues shared a passion for kids, for helping them through the rough years of becoming adults, for helping kids to paths toward success. His 25 years at Stillwater Jr High and the friends made there were among the most rewarding parts of his life.

Outside of work, Steve played fast-pitch softball in a 5 state league, played mixed doubles tennis competitively and then turned to raising dogs. Under the name BearHill Kennels, Steve bred, raised, trained and competed his dogs throughout the Upper Midwest and served on the national board of directors of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America. Steve's dog BearHill Bob won the National Grouse Dog Championship in 1991. Most of all, Steve loved to cook. While a child he helped his mother cook for their large family and learned not only the how of cooking, but the why: the comfort of well-prepared food from loving hands. Steve was happiest when he was cooking for friends and family.

Steve was interested in conservation, energy efficiency, unique buildings and different ways of living and he loved to build houses - trying new and old techniques in both structure and design. In order, he built a cedar and glass teepee, a log house, a Danish modern house, and a straw bale house, then lived on a boat, and finally in a restored theater/library. When he died, he was looking at grain bins.

Steve retired and moved to southern Iowa, where he met and married Hope O'Hara, and they settled into the straw house, until they decided to sell everything and run away to the sea. So they spent most of the next 14 years living and traveling on their sailboat Starshine in the Windward Islands, settling finally in Grenada, West Indies. Wonderful memories made - new friends, new cultures, new foods - and the more mundane - just sitting in the cockpit, surrounded by the sea. Life was magic.

Steve is survived by wife Hope; sisters Kay, Margaret, and Rose; brother Jerry; the extended Studer and McMahon families; and friends around the world.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in Stillwater, MN on September 21, from 3-5, at The 3rd Street Post - 103 3rd Street South, Stillwater, MN. Ashes will be scattered in Grenada in the spring.

Memorials will go to fund school lunches in Iowa and the Youth Services Bureau in Stillwater.