KOONTZ, Steven Michael

Silver Creek Mortuary, Taylor, Arizona Steven Michael Koontz (December 25, 1941 - August 16, 2013) Steven Koontz, 71, of Snowflake, Arizona returned to the Lord on August 16, 2013 in his home among family. Steven was born December 25, 1941 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Doris and John Henry Koontz. He was the eldest brother to Larry, Ronald, Dean and Joy. He served in the United States Army, 5th Division. While in the military, he was stationed in Germany. His recollections of his time in Germany were spoken of with joy and humor. Sometimes he shared a lesson or two about what he learned as a young man away from home for the first time. Steven happily married Linda Sue Roberts on April 16, 1966 in Ft. Wayne. They remained married for 47 years and together enjoyed many of life’s blessings and struggles. Steven retired from American Electric Power in 1995. Upon retiring, he and his family moved to Snowflake, Arizona where his dream of building a cabin and living a self-sufficient life surrounded by the beauty of nature was realized. Steven, with the help of his son and siblings, built a home on forty acres. It was there that Steven peacefully spent his last days. He was a dependable man; one of honesty, humor, wisdom, and perseverance. He always maintained an exceptional work ethic. He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed the outdoors; bow hunting and fly-fishing in particular. With his family, he often took rides to the forest and sometimes would “tailgate”, setting up a small burner to cook hotdogs. He encouraged education and was a dedicated reader. He particularly enjoyed the area of American history, such as the civil war. Steven took great interest in the circus and would often take his family to see “The Big Top.” Steven is survived by his wife Linda, son, Shawn and daughter, Kimberly. When asked if there was any particular quote that came to mind regarding his obituary, Steven referred to Henry David Thoreau’s, “I went to the woods to live deliberately-to front only the essentials of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach. And not, when it came time to die, discover that I had not lived.” In closing, Steven also spoke of the following passage wherein Jesus Christ declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me.”