Steve Magyar

Steve Magyar, 88 of New Port Richey, FL, died Sunday, August 10, 2014, at Marliere Care Center, New Port Richey. Born March 12, 1926 in Mayville, WI, he married JoAnn Yerges of Beaver Dam, WI in June 1951. They lived in Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls, WI before Steve moved to Port Richey, FL in November 1975, with the family following him in June 1976.

Steve operated heavy equipment in southeast WI for over 20 years. He was most proud of the work he did on the entrance to the Milwaukee County Zoo and creating the first pitcher’s mound at County Stadium.

He owned and operated Steve’s Texaco in Menomonee Falls from 1966 to 1975 when the family moved to Florida where he opened his U-Haul dealership in 1976 at his Texaco Station in Tarpon Springs, FL. He retired from running his own business in 2002. Too young to “retire” at age 76, he took a part time position as a transfer driver with U-Haul up until recently. Steve was associated with U-Haul as an independent owner/U-Haul dealer and U-Haul employee for 38 years.

In addition to putting in long hours, six days a week, serving his customers at Texaco and U-Haul, Steve volunteered countless hours with the Loyal Order of the Moose. A member of the Moose fraternity for 47 years, Steve first joined at Eastern Kettle Moraine #1238 in Menomonee Falls/Germantown, WI then moved to the Tarpons Springs, FL Lodge #1429 where he served in all officer capacities. He went on to become the Florida State President for the LOOM. Even after he left office he continued to travel the State of Florida as guest speaker assisting with membership drives, building and management issues, and anything he was called on to do. Steve achieved the “Pilgrim Degree”, the highest order in the fraternity which supports “Mooseheart” for children in Mooseheart, IL and “Moosehaven” for retirees in Orange Park, FL. It would be nothing for Steve to volunteer 20 or more hours a week in service to the fraternity he loved so much.

Steve and JoAnn, his devoted wife of 55 years, loved to travel. They had been to all 50 states and some Carribean Islands and the Panama Canal, meeting with friends of the Moose fraternity all over the country. Their favorite vacation destination was Alaska where they would visit friends at nearly all of the State’s lodges. They made at least 10 trips to Alaska of which all but two were by car – all the way from Florida. Once he flew and once they went via cruise ship.

Steve was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. On game day he was always wearing his Green and Gold, even in Buccaneer country. He visited Lambeau Field many times, attended training camp, and participated in tailgate parties and toured the Packer Hall of Fame several times. His greatest experience was at the age of 84 when he attended Packer Family Night. He had end-zone seats. That night Packer running back Brandon Jackson did the Lambeau Leap in the area he was seated. He touched the Packer in mid leap and got his picture on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with the hugest grin on his face.

Surviving Steve are six children: Mary (Daniel) Petrie of Sheboygan WI, Patricia (Bill) VanAlstyne of Citrus Springs FL, Diane (Doug) Pearce of Clearwater FL, Robert (Diane) Magyar of Odessa FL, Jeanne (Ron) Moore of Bakersfield CA, and Christine Waldron of Florida; 17 grandchildren: Nicole Petrie, Tiffany Petrie, and Jeremy Petrie all of Sheboygan WI, Steve (Aimee) VanAlstyne of Beverly Hills FL, Bill (Patty) VanAlstyne of Slinger WI, Michele (Jamieson) Filip of West Allis WI, Tyler Pearce of Clearwater FL, Adam Walker and Justin (fiancé Kelly) Magyar both of Orlando FL, Brianna Magyar of Odessa FL, Jessica Johns of Philadelphia PA, Cheri Johns of Baltimore MD, Bill Johns of Ventura CA, Kevin Johns and Ethan Moore both of Bakersfield CA, and Heather Waldron and Patrick Waldron both of Hudson FL; and seven great-grandchildren: Austin Specht of Sheboygan WI, Emma Jo Halleen, Riley VanAlstyne, and Cole VanAlstyne all of Beverly Hills FL, Jaxson Moore of Bakersfield CA, and Aiden Gregory and Kaleb Waldron both of Hudson FL. He is preceded in death by his wife JoAnn (2007), and their daughter Linda Magyar (1966).

Services will be held on Thursday, August 28 at North Meadowlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4244 Madison St, New Port Richey, FL at 6 PM. Friends may call at the Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 PM until the time of the Service.

Memorials are suggested in Steve’s name to Mooseheart International at 155 South International Dr., Mooseheart, IL, 60539.

Steve’s children would especially like to thank Kathy Reese and Ersalee Easterling for all the care and attention they gave dad over the past seven years since mom died. Sharing their time, including him in so many of the activities, and simply caring helped ease some of the pain of losing her and the loneliness of being a widow. We love you – thank you!

Steve’s favorite saying was part of the Moose ritual, “Let bygones be bygones. What's done is done. Let no one depart from this altar with anger in his heart. Let us all go forth with good thoughts, good words, and good deeds for all mankind.”

Steve loved life and all it had to offer. He will truly be missed by all those whose lives he touched with his warm smile, huge heart, and blue eyes.

Arrangements under the direction of North/Meadowlawn Funeral Home & Cemetery, New Port Richey, FL.