Steven Harry Chezum
Steve was born in the farm country of Fairfield, Iowa on March 16 1948. He grew up there with his parents and his brothers and his dog Laddie. He left Fairfield when he entered the air force in 1969. He spent a year in Viet Nam and upon returning to the state, finished his education while in the service earning his masters in human resources. He eventually moved to New York where he worked as a Human Resources Director for a pharmaceutical company where he met me, his future wife, Maria. After many years working together at the Company we retired to Lititz PA, an area that reminded him of his birth home in Fairfield, Iowa. He loved his home in Lititz, enjoying the house and the big field behind the house where you could see deer, red fox, and all sorts of other animals that lived in the field . Daughter Kristi’s wedding to Jon in Las Vegas was one of the highlights of his life. He was so happy for them.
Once settled in Lititz, the family would come down often from New York and visit. Mary, Dino, our two grandkids, Melina and Christopher, Michael and his wife Katie, and his grandpuppy, Kona, Jon and Kristi were all frequent visitors to our house. He loved family and especially the grandkids and the pup.
One day we went to the Humane League of Lancaster County, and there he fell in love with his best buddy, Jack. When Stevie became sick due to his liver, and Steve would spend much time in bed, Jack was always by his side. Jack never left Steve. Wherever Steve was, there was Jack. Steve was on the liver transplant list, but in our hearts we knew that because of his A- blood that his chances of getting a new liver were slim to none. As he became more ill due to his decreasing function and complications of liver disease, he always tried to have a smile on his face. On February 12th at almost midnight, his liver stopped functioning, and my Stevie became just a memory.
Steve was the love of my life, my best friend, my confidant, and everything else a husband could be. I miss him terribly and carrying on without him has been very difficult. However, I know that he is with me and looking over us, and now Jack has become my best buddy. Steve was one of a kind, and I am so thankful that Steve and I were married and we celebrated his life each day. In my heart, I know that our Good and Gracious God is taking care of him, and someday we will be together again.
With much love, Maria