Steven Richard "Steve" Mcveigh

Steven Richard "Steve" McVeigh, 68, of Branch County, Michigan and formerly of Battle Creek died at the University of Michigan Hospital on August 11, 2021.

Steven Richard McVeigh was born September 23, 1952 in Jackson, Michigan to William Charles and Ruth (Marble) McVeigh. He came to Battle Creek as a child with his family, was active in Scouting, sports, and played Scrabble with his mom. He worked in the family-owned car washes, Capital Auto Wash and Bill's Auto Wash starting at age nine. Steve was a 1970 graduate of St. Philip High School and attended Ferris State College. He was employed at U.S. Wire Co., Clark Equipment Co. and in 1980 enlisted in the U.S. Army. Steve honorably served his country in the U.S. Army from 1980, until retiring as Sergeant 1st Class in 1997. Steve did Basic at Ft. Knox, AIT at Ft. Jackson, then assigned HHC 4th ID G1 Ft. Carson; participated in Reforger 81; next was 10th AG Postal, Camp Red Cloud in South Korea; Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC New Orleans); was Honor Grad of NCOPD at Ft. Polk; MTMC Soldier of the Year; ACO 304th Signal Bttln Camp Red Cloud, South Korea (Admin NCOIC); Chicago Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Operations; 500th MI Bde at Camp Zama, Japan; NCOIC of Mail Distribution Room and Reenlistment; Lansing MEPS NCOIC Testing / Reenlistment; 25th AG Postal at Camp Zama, Japan, Custodian of Postal Effect COPE in charge of main APO and five outlying Post Offices; and 129th Postal at Ft. Bragg, NC; COPE /PLT SGT/Retired. Steve's Decorations and Medals included Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award) // Joint Service Commendation Medal// Army Commendation Medal (4th Award)// Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd Award)// Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award)// Army Superior Unit Award// Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award) // Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3// Army Service//Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award)// Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic Bar.

Steve enjoyed playing high school football at St. Philip Catholic Central; playing Rugby with the Battle Creek Griffins RFC; fishing, golfing, camping and especially spending time with his family. Steve had a great dry sense of humor, and he always had time for others. He enjoyed remodeling his homes. Steve cared for his parents in their later years. He will be remembered as a man who cared deeply for his children and grandchildren; and he enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. After a long day trolling the lake, he could be found enjoying the crackle of a campfire. His dry sense of humor often boiled over into the inappropriate, but that was him and he was always unequivocally himself. It is rumored that he caught all of the fish in Beadle, Union, Bingham, and Rose lakes in the years after his retirement, or at least the small ones.

Surviving are his children, Stephanie (Shawn) Garcia of Olivet, Benjamin E. McVeigh of Torrance, CA; four grandchildren, Shawn, Chase, Raigan and Drew Garcia; sisters, Patricia (Gerry) Baker of Oak Island, NC, Kathleen (Mike) Coffman of Battle Creek, Anne (Dan) Webb of Winnabow, NC, Mary (Barry) Nowlin of Ceresco; brothers, William C. McVeigh, Jr. of Vicksburg, Michael (Carol) McVeigh of Irvine, CA, Thomas McVeigh of Tucson, AZ, Joseph (Robin) McVeigh of Battle Creek, Robert (John Martin) McVeigh of Raleigh, NC, Charles (Barb) McVeigh of Florence, KY and James (Cindy) McVeigh of Scottsdale, AZ; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. Steve was preceded in death his parents; his infant sister, Margaret; his sister, Jean McVeigh Adams; and his brother, John McVeigh.

Committal and military honors by Ft. Custer Honor Guard and the U.S. Army Honor Guard, followed by inurnment will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 20, 2021 at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. The recording of Steve's service and military honors may be found at https://vimeo.com/589893305.

A reception will be held at 7811 C Drive N, Battle Creek, MI 49014 following the service at 12:30 p.m.

Arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.