Stephen Standerford

Steve was born in Madison, Indiana and was an only child. He attended Madison Consolidated High School, followed by three semesters at Indiana State University.

After leaving college, he chose to join the U.S. Air Force and became a military policeman in the law enforcement division. He served four years with two overseas assignments which were part of the Vietnam Support Mission. He spent six months on a temporary duty assignment in Guam and 15 months in Taichung, Taiwan.

Steve met N. Suzanne Riker in the spring of 1968 on a blind date. They became engaged in November 1968 and were married in Indianapolis, IN on June 14, 1969. The couple moved to Springfield, MA where Steve was stationed. Steve left for Taiwan on December 31, 1970. He was able to arrange a visa for Suzanne to join him in Taiwan shortly after. They had their first child Wendy in Taipei, Taiwan in 1971. Upon returning to the U.S., Steve was stationed in Belton, MO for four months. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in August 1972.

After leaving the military, Steve, Suzanne, and Wendy moved to Lafayette, IN where Steve returned to school at Purdue University. He was nearly finished with a degree in Wildlife Management when their second child, a son, Chris was born. Jobs were scarce in that field, so he decided to drop out and the family moved to Grand Ledge, MI, where Steve became an insurance agent with Prudential. He was an award-winning agent and continued in the insurance business many years. He eventually became a partner in an independent agency.

Throughout life Steve continued his love of fishing which started around five with both of his grandfathers teaching him about lake and stream fishing. He often quoted the saying, “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at the office.” At each place the family settled, Steve soon knew the best places to fish and was almost always successful in catching them. He always threw the fish back as he could not eat them due to an allergy.

As the children grew into young adulthood, Suzanne completed her Ph.D. at Michigan State University in 1992. Wendy remained in college at Central Michigan University while Steve, Suzanne, and Chris moved to Marquette, MI. Steve and Chris enrolled in Northern Michigan University. Chris majored in science to become a high school teacher. Steve earned a certificate as a Surgical Technician assisting in the operating room, followed by his B.S.N. as a registered nurse. He worked for the next 15 years at Marquette General Hospital. He loved nursing and excelled at it due to his kind, nurturing nature. He worked on the Surgical Floor, the Ortho-Neuro Floor, the Oncology Floor, Home Health, and finally on the Adult Mental Health Floor.

Steve’s heart troubles began in earnest in 2004 when he required surgery to open both carotid arteries followed by a quadruple by-pass heart surgery in 2006. After returning to floor nursing he decided he needed a job with a calmer pace and retired from the hospital in 2009. He worked part-time as a nurse in his family doctor’s office for a while before retiring.

Retirement was his best job ever as he had more free time to work around the house, play with Scooter his beloved yellow lab, and help his mom Betty who moved to Marquette in 2012. Suzanne continued teaching at the university, and Steve accompanied her to many wonderful places such as Paris, London, Southern England, Scotland, Wales, and many awesome places in the U.S. In 2019 they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a river boat cruise to multiple places in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Steve is survived by his wife, Suzanne; daughter Wendy and son-in-law Jeff Campbell; son Chris and daughter-in-law Abby Standerford. He is also survived by four granddaughters, Savannah and Taylor Campbell, Tessa and Ella Standerford. Steve’s mother Betty also survives him as she nears the age of 98. He has two cousins living near Washington D.C., Sue and Pat Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his father William Standerford; grandparents Sterling and Beulah Standerford; Rod and Pat Truville; and John Michael Taylor, cousin and John and Angelina Taylor, uncle and aunt.

Friends may call at Canale-Tonella Funeral and Cremation Services on Thursday, August 1, beginning at 3:30 pm until the time of service at 5:00 pm. Rev. Kevin Taylor will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association.

Condolences may be expressed online at canalefuneral.com.