Steven Douglas Guajardo II

Steven was born on September 5, 1991 at Yokota Air Base, Japan to Katherine and Steven Guajardo, who was on active duty in the US Air Force. Steven grew up on Air Force bases around the world with his parents and three younger siblings, Michael, Rebekah, and Dakota.

Steven graduated from Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida in 2010 and married his high school sweetheart, Avalon. Steven and Avalon went on to have five beautiful children: Ava, Steven III, Rowan, Connor, and Samuel. Steven’s children were his biggest source of joy, pride and accomplishment.

Steven joined the US Army in 2012 as an infantryman.

Steven's time in the Recce Platoon was marked with achievement. He arrived to them already Sniper qualified, he quickly attended and graduated the Ranger course. Steven excelled as a Sniper Team Leader mentoring several troopers to graduate Sniper school. He graduated Jumpmaster in 2017 and continued to excel as a leader. Deployed to Afghanistan, Steven was promoted to SSG and led dozens of personal security missions for several distinguished leaders and state officials. He then moved to Charlie company where he took the role of platoon sergeant. He was the definition of a leader. Steve was the person that people went to with their problems and he always was willing to help no matter what the issue always providing a positive outlook to the situations presented to him. He went on to lead his men in a IFR deployment to Iraq in 2020. He was the epitome of a professional and leader. He always had a smile and motivated attitude.

In 2020 Steven was selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School in Fort Rucker, AL to become an Army Aviator. After attending WOCS, he was promoted to Warrant Officer 1 and began flight training on the UH72 Lakota helicopter. Earning top grades he was awarded a coveted fixed wing slot, flying C-12 and RC-12 aerial reconnaissance aircraft. He earned his commercial rotorcraft and fixed wing pilots license upon graduation. Steven was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the 204 MI BN and attained Pilot in Command. He flew operations overseas, supporting intelligence collection operations, which provided crucial information to both the U.S. and allied nations. Steven was one of the last PCs to fly a RC-12x Guardrail aircraft before they were retired from service and began his training on the army's new Global 6500 jet.

Steven was a beloved leader, both as a non-commissioned and commissioned officer that always thought of the people he served with. He would go out of his way to ensure those around him were taken care of. He made many close bonds during his service and will forever be remembered by those that knew him.

Steven was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, David Burge, in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Avalon, children Ava, Steven III, Rowan, Connor, and Samuel, his parents, Steven and Katherine Guajardo, his brother, Michael Guajardo (nephews Michael Jr. and Felix), and sisters, Rebekah (Kagan) Guajardo-Moss (niece Daisy and nephew Logan), and Dakota Guajardo, maternal grandmother Sandra Burge, paternal grandparents Fernando (Nilda) Guajardo and Linda Copeland, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A visitation will be held at Blount and Curry Funeral Home Oldsmar We, located at 6802 Silvermill Dr, Tampa, FL 33635, on November 23, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at Incarnation Catholic Church, 8220 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33615, on November 24, 2025, at 10:30AM.