Obituary for Stephen Douglas "Steve" Hodges
Stephen “Steve” Douglas Hodges, age 48, passed away on January 11, 2023, at Froedtert Hospital in West Bend. He was born on November 2, 1974 in Miami, FL to Douglas and Kathryn (nee Horn) Hodges.
Steve grew up a strong-willed and fun-loving child with a witty sense of humor. He attended Our Redeemer Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1993. Steve was active in sports and participated in Swimming and Cross Country in High School. He enjoyed music and played the keyboard and piano. Steve especially loved water skiing (a family requirement) and was an accomplished barefooter. He also loved downhill skiing, cars and driving his Trans Am. After High School Steve attended UW Platteville for one year in a course of study for Mechanical Engineering. It was during that year when he started feeling the effects of the brain tumor that changed his life. As Steve’s health deteriorated, he turned to God to seek His healing touch.
In 1995, at the age of 21, Steve endured two surgeries to remove the benign tumor that was pressing on his brain stem. After 6 weeks in the NICU at Froedtert Hospital and 6 months in a transitional hospital he was able to come home. Life wasn’t easy for Steve, dealing with his physical disabilities including ventilators, tube feedings, using a walker, and difficulty speaking and seeing, but through it all he never gave up or felt sorry for himself. Steve used these years to read the Bible and seek information about history, firearms, government, politics, and religion.
Steve’s strong spirit has always shown through. In the face of adversity his faith in Jesus has steadily grown. He always had a positive attitude and trusted in God.
Steve is survived by his parents, Douglas and Kathryn; sisters, Jennifer (James) Wegner and Lindsey Hodges; nephews, Tyler, Evan and Noah, niece, Aleah; and other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life for Steve will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Morning Star Ev. Lutheran Church (N171 W20131 Highland Rd. Jackson, WI 53037) with Pastor Charles Raasch presiding. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church from 9:00AM until 10:45AM. A private family interment will be at Washington County Memorial Park on Monday, January 23rd.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Morning Star Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson, WI.
A special thank you to the caring and skilled nurses and doctors at the Froedtert West Bend and Menomonee Falls Hospitals, as well as the Health Clinics, the Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to our frequent 911 calls over the years, and the Lifestar paramedics who helped Steve through many medical emergencies. We’d also like to sincerely thank our Pastor, Charles Raasch and all our family and friends who prayed for Steve and supported our family.
Steve grew up a strong-willed and fun-loving child with a witty sense of humor. He attended Our Redeemer Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1993. Steve was active in sports and participated in Swimming and Cross Country in High School. He enjoyed music and played the keyboard and piano. Steve especially loved water skiing (a family requirement) and was an accomplished barefooter. He also loved downhill skiing, cars and driving his Trans Am. After High School Steve attended UW Platteville for one year in a course of study for Mechanical Engineering. It was during that year when he started feeling the effects of the brain tumor that changed his life. As Steve’s health deteriorated, he turned to God to seek His healing touch.
In 1995, at the age of 21, Steve endured two surgeries to remove the benign tumor that was pressing on his brain stem. After 6 weeks in the NICU at Froedtert Hospital and 6 months in a transitional hospital he was able to come home. Life wasn’t easy for Steve, dealing with his physical disabilities including ventilators, tube feedings, using a walker, and difficulty speaking and seeing, but through it all he never gave up or felt sorry for himself. Steve used these years to read the Bible and seek information about history, firearms, government, politics, and religion.
Steve’s strong spirit has always shown through. In the face of adversity his faith in Jesus has steadily grown. He always had a positive attitude and trusted in God.
Steve is survived by his parents, Douglas and Kathryn; sisters, Jennifer (James) Wegner and Lindsey Hodges; nephews, Tyler, Evan and Noah, niece, Aleah; and other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life for Steve will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Morning Star Ev. Lutheran Church (N171 W20131 Highland Rd. Jackson, WI 53037) with Pastor Charles Raasch presiding. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church from 9:00AM until 10:45AM. A private family interment will be at Washington County Memorial Park on Monday, January 23rd.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Morning Star Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson, WI.
A special thank you to the caring and skilled nurses and doctors at the Froedtert West Bend and Menomonee Falls Hospitals, as well as the Health Clinics, the Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to our frequent 911 calls over the years, and the Lifestar paramedics who helped Steve through many medical emergencies. We’d also like to sincerely thank our Pastor, Charles Raasch and all our family and friends who prayed for Steve and supported our family.