Steven Carpenter, age 68, passed away peacefully at his home with his wife by his side on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, in Jackson, Minnesota. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 31, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11:00 a.m., with Reverend Dr. Martin Lucin officiating, at the Osterberg Funeral Home in Jackson, Minnesota.
Steven Lee Carpenter, son of Kenneth and Darlene (Johnson) Carpenter, was born on Thursday, January 8th, 1953 in Independence, Iowa. After a long struggle with COPD, Steve passed away in his residence on December 21, 2021 with his spouse and friends by his side at the age of 68 years, 11 months and 13 days.
Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Aitkin, MN to be near his paternal grandparents. The family made their way to Jackson where Steve attended and graduated from Jackson High School in 1971. While attending high school, Steve was an accomplished wrestler and his wrestling career was memorialized with his induction into the JCC wrestling hall of fame in 2015.
Following high school, Steve was united in marriage to Rhonda Muir and they shared 3 children, Corey, Chad and Heidi. The marriage later dissolved. Steve spent time working various jobs, including selling his grandfather’s Christmas trees with his family, selling feeder pigs, driving tour bus and school bus, manager of the Hitching Post and road construction with Irving F. Jensen/Knife River where he made many friends as a truck driver then foreman and later retired.
In 1990 he met his partner, Becky, and the couple began dating in 1996. They were united in marriage in Okoboji, Iowa on February 22, 2002.
Steve was better known to his friends as “Carp” and had a larger-than-life personality. He was adventurous, loved to joke around and was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. He enjoyed playing pool and was involved in pool leagues in his time off. He enjoyed ice fishing and watching the Minnesota Vikings. He coached baseball and was quoted as saying “even though we didn’t win much, we always had fun”. He loved to talk about his wrestling and followed local high school wrestling including watching the career of his grand-son, Lincoln Carpenter. He enjoyed western movies and listening to music, especially his favorite band, the BeeGees. Steve leaves behind many great stories and memories for his friends and family.
Steve is survived by his wife of 19 years, Becky; sons Chad (Debra) Carpenter and Corey Carpenter, daughter Heidi (Nick) Pilacinski; grandchildren Samantha, Lincoln and Anthony Carpenter; brother-in-law, Bob Schneider and sisters Karla (Pat) Thurmer and Karen (Don) Wells; his niece Ellieanna Isaac, whom he had a special relationship, and numerous other cousins and nieces and nephews and close friends.
Steven was preceded in death by his father and step mother, Kenneth and Maxine Carpenter and his mother and step father, Darlene and James Ireland and his sister, Susan Schneider.
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