Stephen Richard Holleque

Stephen Richard Holleque, 81, passed away unexpectedly after sharing a wonderful day and Thanksgiving dinner with his adoring family, November 28, 2024. Born on May 9, 1943, in Austin, Minnesota, Stephen lived a life defined by love, dedication, and service. He was preceded in death by his parents, O. Laverne and Irene (Yonke) and is survived by his older brother Eugene.

A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Stephen carried his commitment to community and integrity into his civilian life, retiring as a Fleet Manager after 30 years as a Teamster. With his exceptional mechanical skills, Steve could fix or modify nearly anything, making his skills highly sought after and relied upon by colleagues, friends, and family. He was a “friend of Bill’s” for over 40 years. In his retirement, Steve remained active and engaged as a board member for their retirement community, Dreamland Villa, where his wisdom and kindness left a lasting impact.

Stephen shared a remarkable 61-year marriage with his beloved wife, Jill (Jackson). Together, they built a beautiful family, raising three children in Jackson Michigan: Sons Timothy (wife Lori) and Stephen Todd (wife Heather M.), and daughter Heather J. He was the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren (Kathryn, Timothy, Samual, Makenna, Benjamin, Jackson, Andrew, and Hannah) and the adoring great-grandfather of four.

Stephen, a licensed pilot since 1968, was known for his boundless curiosity and his adventurous spirit by air and land. He enjoyed flying his Piper Tri-Pacer airplane, riding his Goldwing motorcycle and many adventures traveling across the country in a class-A motorhome with his wife and pets for many wonderful years. Steve blossomed in retirement in AZ and enjoyed golfing, hiking, kayaking, jeeping and performing in retirement community events.

Whether as a devoted son, a loving husband, an inspiring father, a doting grandfather, or a steadfast friend, he brought warmth, generosity, humility, and inspiration to everyone he encountered.

His legacy of kindness, humor, and loyalty will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A celebration of Stephen’s life will be held at a later date in Mesa, AZ.

Rest in peace, Stephen, knowing your love and light will continue to shine in the lives of those you touched.