Steve Oakey was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1945. In his 75 years of life, he was surrounded by the people he loved, including family and friends, teammates, and coworkers. Until the end, his beloved support dog, Bart, was steadfastly at his side.
‘Oak’ was guided by values informed by a genuine sense of stewardship. Throughout his life, he quietly supported causes that protected the natural environment; likewise, his social ethics consistently matched his vote, informed by a vast knowledge of American history. An avid reader and self-proclaimed “Civil War nut”, his passion for historical non-fiction was inexhaustible.
His career as a newspaper journalist combined two of his innate talents, writing and sports. A cycling purist, he commuted by bicycle throughout his 40-plus working years.
One of his greatest achievements and joys was realized at age 47, when he climbed Alpe d’Huez, an iconic French Alpine leg of the Tour De France. He also found joy in playing baseball with his Berry’s teammates, traveling to the senior World Series annually until his final year.
In his retirement, he was wholly committed to his grandkids. Whether first in line for school pickup, patiently playing rounds of Monopoly, or cheering from the stands at dance and sports competitions, he embraced the joy of being a grandpa.
Until the end, Oak’s competitive spirit shined as he fought cancer like he played baseball, with good sportsmanship and fortitude, no matter the score.
In lieu of flowers, please make a blood donation or a donation to your charity of choice.
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