Obituaries

Steve Heronemus, 62, peacefully passed away at home in Batavia on Wednesday, Sept. 7, surrounded by his loving family after living with ALS for 19 years and battling stage 4 tongue cancer for 13 months.

The son of Richard and Lois Heronemus, Steve was born on Dec. 28, 1959, in Appleton, Wisconsin. He graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in German and minoring in Business. He played as first chair French horn in Valpo’s top orchestra all four years, and played more than 40 instruments in total, including the natural horn, which he began playing in more recent years when his fingers could no longer move valves. In May 1984, he graduated with a Master in International Management from American Graduate School of International Management.

On July 7, 1984, he married the love of his life Suzanne Boncel, whom he met at Valparaiso, at St Augustine (of Hippo) Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Steve began his business career at NCR in Dayton, Ohio, where he worked for five years. His business management consultant career took him and his family from Dayton to West Bloomfield, Michigan, to Batavia, and then to Munich, Germany, for 19 months before returning to Batavia. Steve and Suzanne raised four children and were active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St Charles since 1992, where Steve was a Sunday School teacher, led Bible studies, sang in choir, served on the Church Council, played his French horn as a member of the Bethlehem Brass, and served on several committees, including one dedicated to making the church more accessible.
Steve was active in his community and in his children’s schools, and especially enjoyed helping with set construction for the high school plays and musicals for as long as he was able. He was inducted into the Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Class of 2020 as a “Friend of BPS” for leading the Batavia High School Facilities Commission to develop, design, and choose plans for expanded curricular areas, the field house, and the Batavia Fine Arts Centre.

Steve received honors as Valparaiso University Distinguished Alumnae for Community Service, Capgemini Community Leader, and Les Turner ALS Foundation of the Year honoree. In 2015, he was the first to receive his namesake Heronemus Award from the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan in recognition of his significant contribution to the advancement of adaptive sailing for helping to pioneer a way for quadriplegics to independently sail in Lake Michigan. His last sail was in 2019; he steered the boat with a leg switch and directed the sails with a bite switch. His book Shells: Sustained by Grace Within the Tempest and its accompanying Bible Study Guide chronicle his journey with ALS and his faith.

He was a hero to everyone who knew him, inspiring all with his unceasing faith in God and his unwavering commitment to mercy and justice in this world. It was his wish to be remembered as a devoted husband and father, a man of faith, a musician, and a lover of wild sailboat rides.

Steve is survived by his adoring wife Suzanne; his children Michelle (Erik Shock), John (Sarah), Matthew (Mary), and Claire; his grandchildren Lyra and Bennett Heronemus and Oliver and Waverly Shock; his mother Lois Heronemus; his sisters Lori (Andrew)
Barrieau and Jill (Kelly) Foster; nieces, nephews, and a grand nephew along with aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren and countless devoted friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his father.

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept 10, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1145 N. Fifth Avenue, St Charles with Rev Paisley Le Roy officiating. Interment will be private.
A livestream of the service can be viewed from the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBZ3XDPjZUA&authuser=0

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Prayer Labyrinth Fund using the link below.

https://secure.myvanco.com/YNNX/campaign/C-12TE6

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