Steve Hegedus

Throughout a journey that spanned times of war and peace, times of grief and times of happiness, times of plenty and times of want, Steve Hegedus always held his loved ones close. He was a constant source of strength, and he made the most of each and every moment. Resilient, hardworking, and dedicated to his friends and family, Steve was a role model for all those who looked up to him. His insatiable zest for life could be felt by everyone around him. Dearly loved, Steve will be forever missed by those who knew him best.

It was a great time to be an American following WWII in the 1950s. Families were reunited, the economy was flourishing, and the baby boom was underway. On March 9 of 1952 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Casper and Stella (Payne) Hegedus welcomed their baby boy, Steven. He was raised in the family home on 6th Street alongside his siblings, Lester, Ron, Vicky, Joe, and Tony. Steve’s father supported the family by working as an electrician and machinist while his mother devoted herself to caring for the children and their house. As a boy, Steve learned to wrench on cars before he could legally even drive. By the age of 13, he had owned, torn apart, and fixed up over a dozen cars.

Before long, Steve began pursuing his true calling as a machinist. He had a lifelong passion for building and fixing things up. When Steve had a vision, he put his head down, worked hard, and brought it to life. He built his career at Humphrey Products, crafting the pneumatic valves that would come to be used in cylinders, gas lights, and USPS sorting facilities all around. Steve loved working at Humphrey Products, where he had the freedom to fabricate projects to bring home and work on. He was very frugal with the money he worked so hard to earn. Steve was very open with his expansive skills and knowledge, and over his career, he taught many of his coworkers how to handle the equipment and maintain the machines.

Of all the things Steve loved in life, he treasured his family above all else. He was overjoyed to become a father to his two sons, Steven II and Travis, and the birth of his boys were some of his happiest memories. Steve thrived in his role as a father. He passed his strong will and independence down to the boys, and they also shared a love for video games and working on machinery. Steve taught them how to build what they needed with their own two hands, and he instilled in them the importance of taking great pride in their work. He was a firm believer ending every conversation with, “I love you.”

Never one to sit still for long, Steve relied on many hobbies to keep him busy in his free time. He loved both hunting and fishing, once getting two bucks right behind his house, both of which he proudly displayed on his living room wall. Steve enjoyed fishing on Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, or anywhere the fish were biting. Steve once took the boys to spend the afternoon fishing on the frozen lake. It was a little late in the season though, and they ended up falling through! Many of his fondest memories took place on the water. Steve’s prized possession was his ‘79 Chevy Scottsdale pickup truck. He would drive it onto the lake for ice fishing, even though it made the boys nervous. Steve loved to play with his four-wheel drive tractor as well, and he would tinker with anything he could get his hands on. He was known for his sweet tooth, and he loved Little Debbie’s, Suzy Q’s, and his homemade peanut butter cups. Steve also liked cashews, pistachios, and cornbread casserole.

All who knew Steve Hegedus will certainly agree that he was a shining example of kindness and humility. He loved to teach others without worrying about getting credit, and he lived to care for and serve his friends and family. A dedicated and sacrificial father to his two sons, Steve never took a single moment with his loved ones for granted. He faced every challenge that came his way with an unbreakable spirit of determination. Life will not be the same without Steve here, but he leaves behind a priceless mosaic of memories for his family members to hold near and dear to their hearts.

A Life Story Service will be held Thursday, January 30, at 4 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A reception will follow in the Life Story Center where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. Celebrate Steve’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial donations may be directed to The Nature Conservancy.