Stephen A. Hayward

Stephen A. Hayward, husband of Pamela, father to Gabriel, Charis, and Jason, died peacefully at on 6 February 2017. He was 58 years old.Steve was born in England, a late child to Marion and Mark. He had two adult sisters at the time. Mark was a veteran of the English 8th Army when Steve came along. The girls, June and Jackie, had married “Yanks” and settled on the East Coast. Mark, Marion, and five year old Steve arrived on the Queen Mary. When he was older, he helped his dad who worked at Sunny Jim’s Golf Course in Medford, New Jersey. They lived in the Quaker Meeting House. He enjoyed his life there. He returned to England when Mark developed cancer. Mark died at 64, Steve was 13. He completed school in the UK, than chose to come back to NJ with his mom. Jackie and Curt and family lived in Medford. Mom started a little shop called Kelly’s Closet and Steve went to Shawnee High School. He loved American teenage life. He engaged in many shenanigans. Did you know VW Beetles float? The local constabulary suggested to him he consider a military engagement. He joined the Air Force in 1977, after graduating from Shawnee. He served at Keesler AFB and Laughlin AFB as a medic. He saved lives.It was at Laughlin that he met a young Pamela LaBode, new Airman, just arrived from Wisconsin. Their first date was in February 1984, and they married in Del Rio, Texas, with many friends attending September 1985. They renewed their vows with a wedding in Wisconsin in 1986, with Marion and Douglas Mellor, his stepfather, attending. He loved Pam enough to marry her again on their 25th anniversary. He felt the renewal was intensely meaningful and suggested it be a routine event. They renewed their vows again on their 30th anniversary during September 2015.Steve and Pam have three children: Jason, Charis (pronounced care-iss), and Gabriel. Jason is an adult, Charis is 18, and Gabe is 12.Steve worked at Regalware for 12 years and International Paper briefly. His primary job became a full-time parent after Gabe was born. We knew he had a short life expectancy. We knew being home with his kids was the best gift for all. He was a loving and involved father. He was an exceptional man, loving husband, devoted, kind, and quick to forgive.He was preceded in death by his father, Mark; mother, Marion; stepfather, Douglas Mellor; sister, Jackie Hayward James; and three babies with Pam.He is survived by his wife and kids. His aunt Glad “Joyce” Pretty of England; his sister, June Cuthrell (Richard); his brother-in-law, Curt James; nieces, nephews, and their children on the Hayward side. He was more than an “in-law” to his family from his wife’s side. He was a sibling. He is survived by sister, Renee and Dan Burkhardt; their Michele with Eric Nelson, and now Leo and Lucy. Beloved nephew, Danny Burkhardt. Sister, Cheryl LaBode; brother, Phil LaBode and Claudia, their girls, Judy with Adam Reuter and Nathan; Robin with Josh Thew, and Shaun and Brett. Amanda, who he is proud of for pursuing cognitive neuroscience degree. Sister, Patricia and Jeff Johnson, with Luke and Jade. Mother, Margaret LaBode and father in heaven, Dick, who preceded him. He is also survived by his beloved nephew, Ryan Gaus and Ryan’s father, Tom Gaus. Special friends and family who have supported Steve through this journey include, noted above: Donna Krueger, Brett Libertine-Meyer, Liz and Matt Ritter, Elise Wawrzyn, Scott and Laura Mueller, Mary, Henry, Katie Lavrenz, Bill and Jill Benson, Tim Parish and Denise, Judy and Tom Peterson, Hal and Nancy Martz, Judy and Markus Ritter, Lea and Agim Zeqiri, Ada Johnston, Lisa and Bob Reber, Sharon and Jim Porfilio, Terry Herring, and Lynne and Pat Pawlak.Thank you to our hospice nurse, Julie Kiefner of Aurora, Chaplain Tracy, and social worker, Megan. You were our angels. Thank you to Dr. Virani and his staff for the loving care, even if it was a brief time.VISITATION: The visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Kurki-Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 East Division Street, Fond du Lac, and from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 51 West Division Street, Fond du Lac.SERVICE: A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2017, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul with Fr. Edward Smith officiating.Burial follow the Requiem Mass in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dundee.

Stephen A. Hayward

June 26, 1958 - February 9, 2017