Stephen "Steve" Peter Sundberg

ONTONAGON, Mich. — Stephen “Steve” Peter Sundberg, 63, of Ontonagon, passed away suddenly of an apparent heart attack on Oct. 31, 2013.

Steve was born Oct. 18, 1950, in Duluth, Minn., to Oscar and Katherine Sundberg. The family moved to Madison, Wis., where Steve spent most of his life. Steve was a graduate of LaFollette High School and later in life, the Wisconsin School of Electronics. He served in the U.S. Army as a medic in Germany and was employed by Yellow and Union Cab Company in Madison, as well as the Greyhound Bus Company. Steve also worked as service manager for the Gordon Flesch Company for many years, before retiring and moving permanently to Ontonagon. In retirement, Steve worked at Holiday, Chapman’s Ace Hardware and the U.S. Postal Service.

Steve was a gentle, peaceful man and he loved the simple things in life. Service was an important part of his life and he embraced it naturally. Steve was a vital volunteer and worker for the Eagles Aerie 2239 in Ontonagon, where he spent many devoted hours performing whatever task was needed. He had a special role in the Community Thanksgiving Dinner and truly enjoyed serving his community. Expanding on a passion he picked up in his high school years, Steve spent many volunteer hours running the light board at the Ontonagon Theater of Performing Arts and as stage manager of the Singing Hills Stage at the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival. This year, Steve was asked to perform a live poetry reading during the Summer Solstice event held by the Friends of the Porkies. He was inspired and honored to be asked to participate again this winter and was busy working on his Winter Solstice reading at the time of his death.

Recently, Steve found peace in caring for and walking the dogs at the Ontonagon County Animal Protection shelter each weekday morning. He had unconditional love and compassion for the OCAP dogs and truly enjoyed spending time there. Steve’s passing leaves a great void in the community and he would hope for that void to be filled by others.

Steve is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Olson) Sundberg, of Ontonagon; daughter, Lissa Sundberg, of Seattle and Madison; godgrandson, Matthew Yancey; brother, Ron (Nancy) Sundberg, of San Jose, Calif .; sister-in-law, Julie Olson and Robert Shardlow, of Ontonagon; brothers-in-law, Jim (Pat) Blair, Ed (JoAnn) Blair, Paul (Debra) Blair, and David Blair, all of Madison, and Ron (Richard) Blair, of Portland, Ore .; sisters-in-law, Mary Sundberg, of Placerville, Calif., and Betty Jean Foster and Geraldine Ware, both of Madison; along with numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his former wife, Linda Sundberg; his parents, Katherine and Oscar Sundberg; and other family members.

Visitation services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon from 5 until 8 p.m. EST.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. EST at Cane Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jeannie Manning officiating.

Friends may view Steve’s obituary and leave messages of remembrance at canefuneralhome.com.