Steven Wayne Plew

Steve Wayne Plew was a family man who liked having people around him to share his joy. Given the circumstances of his young life, it was remarkable that Steve had any cheer in him at all. Yet it was his goal to put a smile on the face of others. He did just that with his kind and fun-loving ways.

Steve was born June 9, 1948 in Huntington, Indiana at a time of optimism in American life following WWII. Families had sacrificed much yet maintained the determination to make the world a better place for their children. One such family was veteran William R. Plew and his wife Phyllis V. (Shultz) Plew, who raised their somewhat mischievous son in North Manchester.

As one story goes, 7-year old Steve and his cousin worked up a rather successful scheme to make some spending money. In an alley at the back of a store, they found glass pop bottles that had been returned for deposit. The two boys brought just enough around to the front of the store to return them for cash to buy a pop. Eventually they were caught, but who knows if the free pop was drunk guilt free.

Tragedy struck the family when Steve was 12 years old. His father suffered a heart attack at the age of 39. His death left Steves mother to raise him and his brother Kenton and sister Tina, who was just 12 days old at the time. Then when Steve was 14, a house fire claimed the life of his mother, 9-year old brother and 2-year old sister. Steve was the sole survivor.

Moving back to Huntington, Steve lived with an aunt and pretty much raised himself. He found an outlet playing football, and he enjoyed hanging out and shooting pool at a local pool hall. In his senior year of high school, he had the good fortune to meet the girl of his dreams. Kathy Shearer also had dreams of a date for her birthday who was tall, dark and handsome. Her cousin arranged for them to meet, and on July 29, 1966, Steve drove up to her house in his black convertible. With a car like that, they naturally went to a movie at the Huntington Drive-in Theater. Just a year and a half later, Steve and Kathy were married in the living room of her parents home on December 27, 1967.

Earlier that year, Steve had graduated from Huntington County Community High School and went on to Nashville Auto Diesel College. His qualification in diesel mechanics landed him a job at Transport Motor Express and Fleet Service. He elected to drive truck for SuperValu Trucking from 1986 until 2008 and for Denny Burnworth Showcase until he retired in 2010. Though he liked his work, Steve certainly enjoyed his downtime with family and friends.

Since he drove truck at night, Steve became the one to have dinner ready when Kathy came home from her job. He started out making mac and cheese diced with hot dogs, but he graduated to better and better meals for the two of them. He kept expanding and broadening his cooking, grilling and smoking skills, which produced such family favorites as chicken Teriyaki, pulled pork and his kimchi. Steve was happiest when others were around for him to feed with his home cooking.

Steve could be ornery but, in truth, he was a very happy man. He always had a smile on his face and was ready for fun. Going out for breakfast with his former truck driving buddies was hard to beat, even though they tried to top each other with their storytelling. Steve also liked golfing with a group of friends who called themselves the Railroaders Golf Club (though the name had nothing to do with an actual railroad).

Being an avid wood worker, Steve made chairs, tables and other useful items during his leisure time. However, if he really wanted to relax, he went fishing and took along one of his six cats, Beeswax. Even if it was a slow day of fishing, Steve would stay out until he had caught at least one fish to give to Beeswax. Such ease and thoughtfulness is just part of the legacy Steve leaves his beloved family and cherished friends. Of course, nothing was more enjoyable for Steve than spending time with his wife, two children, four grandchildren and his three great-granddaughters.

Steve W. Plew, 65, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Kathy L. Plew; son, Doug (Rose) Plew of Columbia City; daughter, Deanna (Ricky) Raines of Clarksville, TN; grandchildren, Steven (Ashlee) Plew, Michelle (Tim) Linsky, Annabelle and Nicholas Raines; great-granddaughters, Rebecca and Hailee Linsky and Jazlynn Plew; and his six cats. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Kenton Plew and sister Tina Plew.

A memorial gathering will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. with his memorial beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr, Columbia City. Memorial gifts may be given in Steves memory to Parkview Whitley Home Health Care and Hospice.