John will always be missed and always in my daily prayers. May he rest in peace and in God's holy arms.
Joe Mc 

To Andy and the entire Stepanek Family,
Our sincerest condolences on your loss. Know that others continue to mourn with you. All the best

Pat - Dave  WPA

I and my son, Brian, met John for the first time when our sons were in Indian Guides in the late 80's/early 90's. However, I got to know him best through the Men's Club of Our lady of Perpetual Parish in Scottsdale. John was an active member; holding offices of President, Treasurer et. al. at times from the founding of the Club to the present. He was a faithful Catholic man and will be missed.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE!

Bob Sweeney

At age 24, in 1983, John was my first boss at Sperry/Honeywell and we've been friends ever since.  We heard about each other's children growing up during daily lunches in the cafeteria.   For several years we carpooled to and from work together -- some of those evening drives home resulted in sharing a beer at my house as well.  Then of course we helped out with projects around the house; John's sprinkler system for example. 

Since we attended the same church, we shared a weekly prayer hour in the  Perpetual Adoration chapel -- 5:00 AM on Friday's and we still had time for breakfast and to get to work before the crowd.  

John's attitude and behaviors during his fight with prostate cancer were nothing short of inspirational.  He was grateful for every day given to him and said that often.  He was truly a good man, and that is about the highest compliment I can pay a person.

John and I both came to work for Sperry in the 70's, but didn't really come to work together until the early 2000's when he joined the Sensors Product Line team.  My background was engineering and John was my lifeline to the real world of supply chain management and manufacturing.  Wow!  I don't know how I would have survived without John's incredible knowledge, kindness, patience and generosity.  When I was overwhelmed or confused or just needed someone to talk to, he was always there with that wonderful smile we all know so well.
And then came his diagnosis in 2004.  He confided in me and gave me the opportunity to walk that difficult journey with him.  And then in 2005 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  What an amazing blessing John was for me.   We were always early birds at work and John was always there for me. Those quiet moments we had to talk before the madness of the day started  meant more to me than he probably ever knew; I'm not sure I ever actually told him.  I guess that I'll have to hold that conversation for later.
I am a better person for having known John Stepanek.  Thanks for being my friend, John.

My prayers and thoughts are with John’s family.  I had the pleasure of knowing John for many years while we volunteered at our church. He was a  gentleman of great kindness and stature. When a dad passes he leaves such a void in his children’s lives.  Know  that he watching over all of you, especially his grandchildren whom he adored.





Less than a year after being hired at Sperry, my then-boss, Mike Hurley, was promoted, and I was assigned to work instead for a guy I had never met before. John Stepanek had recently left to work for another company and (after what might have been a record-setting shortest time ever) had returned to Sperry as Special Components planning manager. 

I didn't know John - just saw him as this huge, bearded, intimidating looking guy. The first time I turned in my weekly report to him (which I had been turning in to MIke, who reveiwed/revised it before sending it forward), John called me into his office. He said "Tell me about this report." I was scared spitless, but I explained it to him. He looked back at me and said "Great job - you don't need to send these to me for review in the future - just make distribution." 

John knew how and when to delegate.

Years later, John fought off with great effort a terrible case of prostate cancer. He successfully overcame it and was cancer-free for 10 years.

Eventually, the cancer came back. I got to spend time with John several times over the last several years and was amazed and inspired by his positive attitude and relentless faith. He kept a positive attitude and continued to pursue every possible avenue of treatment, always believing it was possible to again overcome the illness.

It was only in the last few weeks of his life that he seemed to surrender to the pain and the effort of fighting. But I will ALWAYS remember John for his positiveness, pleasantness, courtesy and respect for others, and amazing faith. 

My condolences to all the friends and family in whose lives there is now a huge hole. I know he would ask us all not to mourn, but this time I'm not going to take his coaching.  

I've included a picture of our perennially smiling friend which was taken at my house just a few years ago. It certainly captures the smile he was so quick to share.

To the Stepanek family my love, condolences and prayers on the passing of their beloved  father and my dear friend John Stepanek. It's too difficult to put into words the many memories John and I shared during our days working at Honeywell and during the many hours we shared during the last 14 years of our retirement. He will be forever in my heart and daily prayers. Perhaps my feeling are best summed up in an old Irish poem and blessing:   
"May the road rise to meet you
  May the wind be always at your back
  May the sun shine warm upon your face
  The rain fall soft upon your fields
   And, until we meet again
   May God hold you in the palm of His hand." 

Joe McCaigue




OBITUARY

John Anthony Stepanek

8 March, 1947 – 14 May, 2020

Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery

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