Steven Glen Emmons

April 4, 1947 - December 13, 2020

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Retired Master Chief, USN. Entered eternal life on December 13, 2020, age 73. Left to honor and celebrate his life are his beloved wife, Mary (nee Henderson), dear sister, Patti Lee (Johnny Zuniga), best brothers, Dallas (Sherry) and Loran (Barbara) and brother-in-law and friend, Ernest “Bud” (Sue Lee) Henderson. Also left to cherish his memory are nephews and nieces, Patrick (Tracy) Henderson, Louis (Jennifer) Henderson, Michael (Alice) Henderson, Scott (Laura) Henderson, Katy (Matt) Ellingson, Eric Lee Henderson, Rebecca Emmons, Dallas Taylor Emmons, and Brenton Emmons.

Steve grew up in the “happy days” era in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He loved fast cars, pretty girls, Doo Wop music, Ray Orbinson, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, ohnny Cash and Glen Campbell. He reveled in cruising up and down Peoria, blasting the music on the car radio and zooming into Penningtons for a shrimp basket and a Coke. His good friends Walter M. Fast (aka Wildman Fast), Bob Chandler, Kent Fox, Mike Fenimore and Weston Hill were always involved with their teenage hijinks. Yes, these were the happy days of his youth!

Steve was ab it of a rebel when young, so he decided to take his mom’s car and credit card, without permission, and drove to Oklahoma City with a buddy and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was only seventeen at the time! Pop and Dorothy sat him down and asked him, “Son is this really what you want to do?” He said yes, so in August of 1964 he went to San Diego for boot camp and “A” school.

One of his first duty stations was squadron 8 Crew II out of Patuxent, Maryland. He really enjoyed flying and being part of a crew. This was during the Vietnam War.

Other duty stations included the USS Dubuque. This ship and her crew participated in the evacuation of Saigon. Then he was assigned to the naval weapons station in Concord, California. Next came the USS Comte de Grasse, followed by duty in Bath, Maine with the Fleet Introduction Team. The next sea duty was aboard the USS Nassau. He finished out his career at NAVCAMS LANT as Communications Leading Chief Petty Officer.

Steve often said that his decision to join the navy was one of the smartest ones he ever made.

His medals, decorations, citations and campaign ribbons awarded are as follows:

Vietnam Service Medal (Third), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (Second), Sixth Good Conduct Award, and National Defense Medal (Second).

When he wasn’t working, Steve enjoyed travelling the highways and back roads of our beautiful country with his “little spinner” wife Mary, Happy gypsies making numerous trips to visit family in Tulsa, St. Louis and Milwaukee in their RV. The Outer Banks of North Carolina was a favorite vacation spot. Their little pack of animals were always with them for these trips.

When his body started to betray him with chronic back and leg pain, Steve enjoyed watching ME-TV, the old Western shows: The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke and Roy Rogers would stir memories of a simpler time. You could often find him enjoying his favorite snack of kettle popcorn.

Those left to cherish his memory of a life well lived are: his beloved wife, Mary; sister, Patti Lee (Johnny Zuniga); brothers: Dallas (Sherry), Loran (Barbara), brother-in-law Ernest (Bud) (Sue Lee) Henderson; nephews: Patrick (Tracy) Henderson, Louis (Jennifer) Henderson, Michael (Alice) Henderson, Scott (Laura) Henderson, Katy (Matt) Ellingson, Eric Lee Henderson, Rebecca Emmons, Brenton Emmons.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dorothy (Musselman) and Jack Emmons; his mother and father-in-law, Alice (Wallner) and Bill Henderson; brother-in-law, Bill, and wife, Kathy Henderson, and brother-in-law Robert Henderson.

Steven’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the ER at Froedtert and the doctors and nurses at the MICU with a special recognition to Katie D. who was so kind and compassionate while Steve was leaving this Earth.

Due to COVID, we will have a celebration when it is safe to gather at a future date.

Memorials appreciated to the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Vets or a Humane Society of your choosing.

Until we meet again, Happy Trails!

There are no events scheduled.

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So, so sorry to hear of Steve's passing.. we served in the US Navy together and were stationed on the same ship in the 1970's.. Steve was one of the best men I knew.. always ready to lend a hand.. just great to be around.. and we made some deployments together.. Steve, you will be missed my friend.. but until we meet again.. God Bless.. to you and Mary. Kathy and I loved you very much.

HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY. PSALM 91:1 BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART, ALL YOU WHO HOPE IN THE LORD. PSALM 31:24

ALSO TO THE KRAUSE FUNERAL HOME EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES & CAREGIVERS WHO WATCH OVER STEVE & MARY, I AM FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT!! "WELL DONE THY GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANT"

SINCE YOU LORAN, DALLAS, BUD , & PATTI ARE THE OLDEST IN THE HENDERSON/ EMMONS FAMILY, TAKE THE LEAD ON IN UNITY!!!!

IN MY LAST CONDOLENCE, I FORGOT TO SAY THIS: AS WE ALL SHOUT HALLELUJAH TO THE HEAVENLIES TOGETHER, THEN THIS IS UNITY, AND WHERE THERE IS UNITY, GOD, JESUS, & THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PRESENCE IS!! REMEMBER THE KEY TO GOD'S HEALING POWER IS UNITY IN PRAYER & PRAISE & WORSHIP- " WHERE TWO OR MORE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME..., IT SHALL BE DONE"

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

ON A WARM SUNNY DAY IN 1990, I STEPPED THRU THE DOOR OF FULLER MASSAGE THERAPY SCHOOL & WAS FIRST GREETED BY A SHY SMILING FACE SITTING AT A TABLE TO MY LEFT & OUR INSTRUCTOR NANCY, AS I TOOK MY FIRST STEPS INTO THE MASSAGE THERAPY INDUSTRY. AS I SAT DOWN & GREETED THAT SHY, QUIET PEACEFUL WOMAN, I REALIZED SHE WOULD NEED MY ENCOURAGEMENT. SO BEGAN MY DEEP LOVING FRIENDSISTERSHIP WITH MARY HENDERSON EMMONS, THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS!!! WHAT A TREASURE GOD GAVE ME THAT DAY!! SO YOU SEE , LATER IN CAME STEVE EMMONS , WITH HIS VIVACIOUS, JOYFUL SELF, WHO TREATED ME LIKE I WAS HIS SISTER TOO & TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING TOO!! IMMEDIATELY I WAS ONE OF THE FAMILY, & I HAVE MISSED THEM TERRIBLY HERE IN CURRITUCK COUNTY, NC. YOU SEE, US SOUTHERNERS GRAB ONTO FRIENDS LIKE STEVE & MARY & NEVER LET GO, & MY HEART BREAKS WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THIS GREAT LOSS OF STEVE EMMONS!!! I AM FOREVER GREATFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR CARING FOR STEVE ALL THOSE YEARS SO LONG AGO, SO GOD COULD DELIVER THE GIFT OF STEVE & MARY EMMONS TO MY DOORSTEP HERE IN NC. TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE GENTLEMAN , SMART MAN STEVE BECAME & WAS TO US ALL, HE CAN NEVER BE REPLACED!! I COULD ALWAYS RELY ON HIM FOR KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM I DID NOT POSSESS, CAUSE STEVE ALWAYS HAD THE ANSWERS!!! HE WAS ONE OF A KIND , CUT FROM A DIFFERENT PATTERN I HAD NEVER RUN ACROSS, MUST HAVE BEEN THAT NAVY UPBRINGING I SUPPOSE!!! GO NAVY!! I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO HIM WAS THANKSGIVING WHEN HE HAD COME BACK HOME FOR THE LAST TIME, & WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RUDY GOING MISSING IN THE WEEKS BEFORE AS STEVE LAY IN REHAB. STEVE WAS PRAISING HOW GREAT MARY WAS FOR TAKING CHARGE & BRINGING RUDY HOME TO SAFETY, HE WAS SO PROUD OF YOU MARY!!! I SHALL NEVER FORGET HIS WORDS TO ME AS HE SHOUTED "HALLELUJAH" THAT MARY & THE NEIGHBORS FOUND RUDY!! I REMEMBER THINKING, " STEVE IS PRAISING THE LORD!" RIGHT THEN I KNEW THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS UPON HIM & GOD WAS WITH US!! I NOW KNOW STEVE IS SHOUTING HALLELUJAH IN HEAVEN TOO!! SCRIPTURE SAY , " THE LORD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE", WHICH MEANS AS WE PRAISE GOD THE LORD'S PRESENCE & POWERFUL HEALING SPIRIT TOUCHES OUR BODIES TO HEAL!! SO MARY, PATTI, DALLAS, LORAN, BUD, SUE, PATRICK, LOUIS, MICHAEL, SCOTT, KATY, ERIC, REBECCA, BRENTON, CATHY, & ALL THE FAMILY & FRIENDS, ON THE SAD DAYS WHEN YOU ARE MISSING STEVE EMMONS, REMEMBER TO SHOUT HALLELUJAH TOGETHER WITH STEVE , HE HEARS YOU IN HEAVEN & SO DOES JESUS!!! THERE 'S GREAT HEALING POWER IN THAT WORD!! MARY, YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH STEVE'S WINGS & MINE TOO & THE WORD "HALLELUJAH" IS THE GREATEST WIND BENEATH ALL OUR WINGS, SO SHOUT IT TO JESUS & STEVE IN THE HEAVENLIES, CAUSE THE GLORY SHINES ON STEVE THERE, & ON US HERE TOO!! REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS, & I AM ASKING GOD TO IMBED IT IN YOUR HEARTS!! PLEASE CARE FOR MY MARY OUT THERE IN MILWAUKEE, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR WATCHING OVER HER NOW!! GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU ALWAYS!! SHALOM ALEICHEM!! LOVE ALWAYS, NANCY D. SNEAD COINJOCK, NC

Spending so much time with him and aunt Mary growing up, it felt truly like having two fathers. There was mine, then "uncle Steve". Of all the years being around him, virtually every memory is a very happy one. As much as I *hate* having pictures taken of me to this day, my favorite ones of my entire life happen to be my baptism on May 2nd, 1986, him holding me in his full uniform. It seemed to me in all those years every radio around him just happened to be tuned to a country music station, and those memories gave me a love of that music today. He had the perfect blend of both tough, and sweet, with the kindness and his laughter always coming out ahead. No one else's passing in years has hit me the way his does. I can't put in words just how much I'm going to miss him.

I love you Mary! You know Mom and I were never very good at this kind of thing. Steve was as kind and as comforting to me as anyone that I’ve ever know. He was intelligent, skilled at everything he tried to do, and was as hard a worker as anyone I’ve ever met. it hasn’t been fair to him suffering for the last 10+ years not being able to do what he loved to do. He has inspired me to be a better person and to attempt things that I would have never attempted. He was always good for a laugh and could always be counted on in a pinch. He is one of the best men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and lucky for all of us he was family. I’ll miss him always, but will take comfort in the fact that he can do what he wants to do without suffering his failing body. I know i will see him again, unless I don’t make the cut for heaven because I am sure that he has earned his ticket. I’m soooooo sorry Mary, but thank you for brining a great man into our family, and sharing your love with the rest of us.

Mary, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. I never really knew the man but I knew you and wanted to offer my condolences to you and the rest of the family. I've tried reaching you on Facebook a while back but don't know whether you got my messages. Hoping you get in touch with me in the future to talk about old times. Rick Hecht

Steve, I will miss you. Thanks for all the fun times we shared. Thank you for being a wonderful Uncle. With love, your nephew, Patrick

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.

Steven Glen Emmons

Brookfield

Brown Deer Road

Capitol Drive

New Berlin