In Loving Memory
Steven Louis Merwald
January 26, 1965 – May 12, 2021

VISITATION
Friday, May 21, 2021
4:00 -7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Emmetsburg, Iowa

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE
Saturday, May 22, 2021
11:00 A.M.
First Island on Five Island Lake
Emmetsburg, Iowa

Please feel free to bring your lawn chair.

CLERGY
Rev. Bill Schreiber
Holy Family Catholic Church
Emmetsburg, Iowa

MILITARY RITES
V.F.W. Post #2295
Emmetsburg, Iowa

Steven was born January 26, 1965 in Omaha, NE the oldest child and only son of Louis and Margaret (Peg Donovan) Merwald.

Steven's early life and schooling was spent in Omaha, NE.  Steven was very proud of his upbringing and the fact he was from Omaha. He was always ready to share a story about being knee deep in mud helping his dad dig a basement in the rain, his braces getting caught in the carpet or "losing" his homework on his way home from school. He shared many memories of going to Prairie Lane School and Mary Our Queen Catholic School, always quick to remember a name and face and eager to reconnect with anyone. He was too small to be on the Westside football team so he went into gymnastics instead. Steven could tap dance and guided his wife around a dance floor like Fred Astaire thanks to his mom putting him in dance classes. Steve graduated from Westside High School in 1983.

Steven's life of service to his country and community took off, quite literally, when he joined the U. S. Air Force shortly after graduating high school.  His 20 year career took him all over the world and the United States, starting in Texas and then on to Illinois.  His first assignment sent him to Okinawa, Japan, where he bought his first motorcycle and learned to scuba dive.  From there his career took him quickly to Homestead AFB in Florida then to Cannon AFB in New Mexico, then to an assignment in Turkey, finally bringing him back to the U.S. to be stationed at Offutt AFB in Omaha for a short time and then finally to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina where he retired in 2003.  Throughout all of these places and assignments he had many jobs: AGE mechanic, an agent with the Office of Special Investigations, flight engineer and volunteering on Honor Guards.

It wasn't until he returned from Turkey that he embarked on the Air Force adventure he loved the most, Flight Engineer on C-130 aircraft. There wasn't a person who met him that if they spoke with him long enough wouldn't hear at least one story of his travels and adventures, one of which being chosen to be part of the crew to fly to Normandy, France to take part in D-Day ceremonies. He loved telling about the French people greeting them with bottles of wine and when one bottle went dry another was thrust upon them. They were roomed in a convent where even the nuns were passing wine. His favorite part was when he woke the next morning with his teeth stained almost black from the wine. He always said the view from the plane was his favorite office view.

Before retiring from the Air Force, Steven was already preparing for his on-going service to country and community. While stationed at Pope AFB, Steven decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a firefighter. This adventure started with volunteering with the Rockfish and Lake Rim Fire Departments. After finishing his training he was hired by the Fayetteville Fire Department and became a fulltime firefighter. In typical Steven fashion he made sure to continue with educating himself so he could expand on his duties for the department becoming an EMT and running ambulance calls.

Steven married the love of his life, Victoria (Smith) Merwald, in August of 2002.  They met while stationed together at Homestead AFB in the mid 80's where, while on deployment, he won her heart by asking her to dance, and teaching her to two-step around a pool as the sun was going down. He also popped up in the window of a truck to give her a Pepsi because as he said, "You look like you could use this." Circumstances were such that their story was put on hold but when it began again it flourished.  Steven and Vicky did their best to blend their family. They never took their relationship for granted and worked hard to be the kind of team that children need an example of and marriages need to last. There was nothing they would deny each other as long as all responsibilities were met first. They had a running joke where Vicky would say, "Honey can I have this or that?" And without hesitation he would say, "Yep, order it up." Vicky would ask if he would ever tell her "no" to which his reply was always "nope".  Steven and Vicky had a nightly ritual of walking the family dog, Ralphie, where they could be seen hand in hand or arm in arm, no matter the weather, just enjoying their few minutes of just being with each other. In a phrase, Steven and Vicky loved each other well.

Steven's dedication to his children was just as strong and he lived his life making sure they would have what they needed and, as much as possible, give them what they wanted. His family was his pride and joy, so much so that a nurse shared with Vicky, that throughout his short but extensive treatment at Sanford Medical Center the nurses would argue over who would care for him so they could hear his stories of his wife and children. Steven made friends wherever he went and a flash of his grin and a good story would guarantee that no one could walk away thinking he was anything but a great guy.  In fact, Steven's stories were so plentiful that an evening with the neighbors left one saying, "Okay Steve, we get it, your life is better than ours." He grinned and continued with another story.

Steven and Vicky returned to Emmetsburg to be nearer to family in 2005, where Steven's next adventure serving his community started. While learning everything there was to learn about making ethanol he needed to have his adrenaline rush needs met. Steven decided to pursue being a volunteer for the Palo Alto County Sheriff and Emmetsburg Police Department.  Once again Steven could find a way to make anything exciting and could always share a humorous story about being on duty.

Steve was Irish and never one to back down from a good party.  Steven didn't fully appreciate St. Patrick's Day before moving to Emmetsburg. After his first celebration, Steven insisted on being the host and inviting everyone to his home. Every year he came up with something new to either share with or entertain the family and guests. Giant fishbowls with concoctions he got from the Tipsy Bartender, he and his brothers-in-law devising new "challenges" for people to try and finding new fedoras for his ever changing wardrobe which finally culminated in, as Steven put it, "being so comfortable in his manhood" he bought and wore a kilt. But Steven being Steven he couldn't just stop with the kilt, he had to have everything that went with it, the socks, the dagger, the sporran and the kilt pin.

Steven's life of service and adventure came to a finish after a brief but very courageous fight with lung cancer with his wife by his side, holding his hand.

Steven is survived by his wife, Victoria (Smith) Merwald of Emmetsburg, his children:  Donovan Louis, Benjamin Eric, Hannah Victoria, all of Emmetsburg, IA; William Adan Merwald of Pueblo, CO, Nicholas (Erin) Merwald of Waukee, IA, Rhian (Riley) Ray of Raleigh, NC and Christopher (Whitney) Merwald of Colorado Springs, CO, his father, Lou Merwald of Omaha, NE, his sisters, Kathy Merwald and Connie Hansen, both of Omaha, NE, his niece, Erin Hansen of Omaha, NE and nephew, Nate Hansen of Omaha, NE. His mother-in-law, Carolyn Smith of Emmetsburg, IA, brother-in-law Roger Smith (Jody) of Omaha, NE and Eric Smith (Suzanne) of Fairmont, MN.

Steven was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Merwald, his father-in-law Eric Smith and two infant children.