In loving memory of Steve Kenniston

With death comes a clarity, though clouded by memories...
Life as you know it can end quickly.

The past 2 weeks have been surreal, and while I know I keep using that phrase, it's true.
It just doesn't seem possible, but I know that it is.

While Steve had some health issue over the past couple of years, nothing that indicated he would leave so suddenly.  He was actually getting stronger, feeling better and doing more of his normal routine.
He "retired" on his 70th birthday on August 1st, but was still working, training his replacements. He enjoyed that and was happy with how that was going. He started taking Fridays off and of course he would spend them at the lake.  His last Friday he helped around the marina and he was so happy. He sent me pics that day, talked to me on the phone prior to coming home and was happier than he'd sounded in a long time.  We went to the Buckeye Game that Saturday, we had a GREAT Day. We went with Robin and Jim. We traveled with them a lot. We always had fun together. We had lunch at Son of Thurman's, we went to the Skull session before the game, we watched an amazing game and went back to the hotel. He even said before bed "What a fun day". It truly was. The start of my birthday week. 
In the middle of the night he stopped breathing, his CPAP machine leaking air was my cue, I nudged him as I did so many times that his hose was leaking, but unlike all the other times, he didn't respond. I jumped out of bed, yelled at him to wake up, called the front desk to call 9-1-1, woke my sister up in the room next door and my sister and her husband did chest compressions until the paramedics arrived. It all happened so fast and while they were able to get a pulse, he never regained consciousness. 
The boys and his sister came down, his girls came home, one by air and one by car, no easy trip for them either.  It was then that we knew there was no coming back from this. He passed peacefully in his sleep surrounded by the girls, me, my sister and his sister. 

And just like that, my life is forever changed. 

We had plans, we were making plans, we talked about so many things, going back to Hawaii in 2026, going to Vegas in November, going to FL in the winter, our bucket list trip was to fly to Seattle, rent a car and drive the coast to San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge.  

Steve and I met at work, at Modern Builders Supply at the end of 2003, I began working there in February 2024.  He proposed on 05/05/05 and we were married December 28, 2006 on the Island of Oahu. Barefoot on the beach. Just like we wanted to do. 

He was an awesome step dad to my boys, loved his girls and was so VERY proud of all the kids accomplishments.  He loved being a Papa. 

People ask how I'm doing. I'm numb. It's hard to wrap your head around how quickly this happened. 

I have been surrounded by love, by my family and friends and I feel it. I feel the love, the support and the strength. 

I go back to work tomorrow, working remotely to start. The distraction will be good, but I know I have so many things to take care of and I will. The future seems so clouded right now, no clear path in site and I have faith that God will see me through this. 

I am so grateful for our kids and their spouses, they have been so amazing. My siblings, my friends, my coworkers, his coworkers, our marina family... His reach was huge and he was loved and respected by many.  I always said he was the calm to my storm.  He was also my weatherman, my navigator and my co-pilot.  His advice, his love, his work ethic, was so solid. I will carry it all with me in my heart. 
He went along with all my crazy ideas and could make my vision come to life, be it a home improvement project, a trip, anything..........He could make it happen.  Someone mentioned to me that I spent 1/3 of my life with Steve, he was with me through so many things, He got the best version of me, after the mistakes of my youth, I had a clearer vision on my future and while we weren't looking for love when we met, we found it anyway.  He was my strength. My support, my cheerleader, my confidante. 

I will miss him. I am not sure I can put it any simpler. 

My advice to you is this:

Live the life you dream of, do the things you dream of. Don't wait. Make the plans, do the things. 

Love like it's your last day and take the opportunity to tell those that mean something to you that they do. Don't wait.  Steve never went to bed without saying goodnight and I love you. Every day of our married life, if we weren't together, he called me.  I know how much he loved me and I hope he knew how much I loved him.  

Forever loved and missed.
Steve Kenniston 8/1/1955- 10/6/2025

With all my love, 
Kellie