Steve looked rather surprised to find himself in our family! Or perhaps he was just shocked to be flanked by his two "gun-toting" brothers (Pat, left; Michael, right).
 
 

In 1959 we gathered with some of  Dad's side (above left) during a summer trip to Litchfield. Steve is standing next to Pat and in front of Grandma Odle (left) and Great Grandma Weaver (right). Later we were with some of Mom's side of the family (above right) at Christmas. Steve is in the front, center next to brother Pat and cousin Linda. Mom is at the back, behind her sister, Aunt Doris, and Aunt Doris's family.
 

Steve learned the value of work early. Ok, it wasn't his idea! Regardless, he was doing dishes standing on a step-stool in this 1960 picture with Pat (1st photo on left). His trademark grin shows up again in the 1961 picture on the front porch (2nd from left) sitting in front of Mom and Dad with me (Michael) on the side. He loved animals. He visited the neighbors' rabbit with our dog (in the shadow behind the rabbit) in 1966 picture (2nd from right), and helped Mom feed a wild burro (I know, we're not supposed to, right?) in Custer State Park, S. Dakota that same year.

 Steve is between Pat and Michael with Uncle Lyle at Starved Rock State Park, Illinois, in 1965.
 
 

At age 14, he was quite a good-looking guy in this school photo. That same year he was selected by the newspaper, the Elgin Daily Courier News as one of its carriers of the week. They cited his courtesy with his customers and his good record of delivering the papers on time and putting them where the customers wanted them put. See, that dishwashing training must have paid off!
 
 

After dating a few others, Steve made his final choice -- Janice. These 1976 pictures (above) in Mom & Dad's home certainly hints at the marriage to come. On the left Steve is with Janice's daughter, Aimee.
 

Steve and Janice were married in 1978, and Steve became a second Dad to Aimee.
 
 
 

A few years later, Ben was born (1982) to the great joy of his Dad and Mom. Sister Aimee decided he was ok, too!
 
 
 
 
 

There are very few pictures of the three Odle sons together after childhood. This is one of my favorites. On the couch, left to right, are Michael, Amanda (Pat's daughter), and Patrick. Standing behind the couch is Steve, next to his son, Ben. Ben clearly inherited Steve's goofy grin. Hey! He's giving me "bunny ears!" Sigh, just like his Dad.
 
 

I don't have any pictures of Steve with his dogs, which is really too bad. He always had one dog around that he bonded with as a virtual soulmate. Whether it was Jeep during his childhood or Whiskey, Kisha, or Saber during his adulthood, it was almost unheard of to find Steve far from one of his beloved animals. When Steve died his devoted Saber was with him. Sadly, Saber had to be put down in order to get to Steve's body. Protective to the end, Saber would let no one near where Steve lay. Now Saber is buried on the land in Missouri where Steve died. I think Steve would have liked that.

In his last years, Steve was afflicted by depression and alcohol. Life was very hard for him and for those around him. Janice and Ben continued to love him, support him in the ways that they could, and - after he moved - to visit him when possible. Steve was born in Chicago, but had the heart of a country boy. So, he sought a measure of peace for himself by moving to a parcel of land in rural Missouri where he and Saber could run free. May God, in his infinite mercy, grant that Steve and Saber are now truly free and truly at peace.

I love you, Steve, and I miss you. I pray that we will meet again in a much happier place.

Michael
 
 

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