Stephen Thomas Roschyk

Service Details

A celebration of life will be held in the funeral home on January 11, 2025, at 12 O’clock. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

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Stephen T. Roschyk, 75, of Kenosha, passed away at Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha, on Monday, December 16, 2024. He was born in Escanaba, MI on July 2,1949, the son of the late Edmund and Annabelle (nee: Corrigan) Roschyk Sr.

Mr. Roschyk served his country with the U.S. Navy, during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Krishna and the USS Boston. On June 19, 1982, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Kenosha, he was united in marriage to Cathy L. Brnak. Mr. Roschyk had been employed by Caspian Construction, UW-Parkside, and later by Sigma-Aldrich.

In his younger years, he had a need for speed and drag racing with a rebellious attitude to boot, which was later passed on to his son Matthew. When getting home from Vietnam he lived in Union Grove for years, to satisfy his love of racing and the powerful cars of his time. When he got home from Vietnam, he fell in love with a green 1971 Chrysler Plymouth on the Martin’s car lot in Union Grove; and with the help of the owner, Bill Martin Sr., within days it was his. Since then, Martin’s Garage became Stephen’s favorite place to visit on his morning drives, bringing O & H Kringle to spoil those whom he thought of as family.

Throughout the years, Stephen was known for his canning skills and gourmet cooking, to include his famous meatballs that earned an article in the Kenosha News. He also made the Kenosha News every year for his home Christmas display, featuring some of his best woodworking skills: a life size Santa, elves, Canadian geese, and even a sleigh with reindeer harnessed with evergreen garland and large brass bells. He was amazing with a table saw and woodworking, he loved to make things for his children and relatives. He loved to build model cars and Legos with his children, as well as playing Super Nintendo for years with them. His children, Amy and Matthew, helped him plant and harvest his huge garden every year, this was just another one of the many special bonding moments that will be remembered forever.

Stephen was a NASCAR fan, especially of Dale Earnhardt Sr. He was able to visit Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) when it was still used as an active garage for Dale and Mike Waltrip in Mooresville, North Carolina. Stephen was also a Packer fan, he used to take Amy and Matthew to training camp, museum, and several games. He had quite an extensive collection of Packer items, that even included a personal autograph from Brett Favre. He never missed watching a game when the family was young. Stephen drove the family camper on numerous trips to show his children as much of the important parts of the United States; places like Niagara Falls, Disney in Florida, Washington DC, St. Louis, historical battlefields of the civil war, and so many more. Stephen also camped with the local group the Keno campers for years.

In retirement, it wasn’t long until Stephen bought the perfect cabin in the woods in Spalding Michigan, where he enjoyed many years of being near family and friends of his youth. When at the cabin, Stephen also spent his mornings eating breakfast at the Wildwood Restaurant, a place he grew up knowing when his older sister Helen worked there; lucky for him, it was just a few minutes from the cabin. Best of all he spent time with his son Matthew and his granddaughter Liliana. Matt and Stephen did a lot together throughout the years up there, including deer hunting and their favorite pastime of frequenting Menards in Escanaba.

He was an electrician by trade but also a skilled auto mechanic and he could fix or repair just about anything. He enjoyed 13 years of retirement. He spent time playing Mexican train dominoes with his grandson Ethan, he never missed watching an episode of M*A*S*H with his wife. He also enjoyed many Word Search puzzles and reruns of Gunsmoke. Many years ago, he helped raise his two grandsons from Georgia when they lived in his household. He finally got the truck of his dreams, a Dodge Ram 1500 Limited Edition with upgrades galore. Although we all hate to see this Yooper go; he lived a good life, was a great friend and willing to share his knowledge with anyone who crossed his path.

Surviving him are his wife of 42 years, Cathy; their daughter, Amy (Christopher) Wheeler; four grandchildren, Ryan and Cody Usinger, Ethan Wheeler, and Liliana Roschyk; two brothers, Joseph (Sally) Roschyk, and Raymond Roschyk, and sister-in-law Jean Roschyk. His nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends also survive him. In addition to his parents, Mr. Roschyk was preceded in death by his son, Matthew Roschyk; brother, Edmund Roschyk Jr.; three sisters, Helen Rowley, Theresa LaDuke, and Dianne Behymer; and great niece, Rebecca Roschyk.

Stephen will be laid to rest at the Spalding Township Cemetery, Michigan; next to his son Matthew.