Stephen Sierawski

Stephen ‘Steve’ George Sierawski died unexpectedly on April 28th, 2023 at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV from complications of an acute illness. A romantic at heart, he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio to the late Andrew & Cecelia (Sipcich) Sierawski.

Steve was a free spirit who did things on his own terms. He graduated from Wintersville High School in 1973 and attended Ohio Northern University where he found the love of his life and chose to leave school to work. He later went back to college and earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration at The Ohio State University.

In his lifetime, Steve was a jack of all trades and had experience in many different jobs and professions. He went from managing restaurants to waiting tables in order to spend more time with family. He felt customer service was key, and because of this he was written up in Columbus Monthly magazine as the “Best at What He Does”. Steve was a creator and an entrepreneur. He developed “JL Stevens Winery & Deli”, a 50-seat deli and restaurant selling wine by the glass and over 250 imported beers, all ahead of its time, in 1986. His creativity shined as he crafted a custom menu of sandwiches, salads, and catering options. He never had trouble starting a conversation and this was evident watching him talk to sales people and customers alike. Steve was a well-liked teacher (in and out of the classroom) and a college student advisor. At his home in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, his diverse talents were evident in the 3-tier, 1300 square foot deck he designed and built. (Some said that if the property was hit by a tornado, the house may fall, but the deck wouldn’t budge!) He carried these talents to Las Vegas and designed a resort-like backyard full of palms, cacti, and flowers to enjoy everyday.

Steve had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. He was adventurous and sought out unique travel experiences taking him to five continents and numerous countries within. He appreciated going off the beaten path including a gorilla trek in Uganda, exploring the Amazon, biking in Cambodia, Bangkok and Vietnam, and spending a day caring for and riding elephants in Thailand. His love of music was vast and evident in his numerous playlists consisting of many themes and genres for any occasion. One playlist titled “Car Ride” encompassed 17 hours of music to make the road trip to Portland, Oregon to visit his grandkids.

He loved spending time with family and friends and engaging in thoughtful conversations. Steve knew how to relate to people and had a keen memory. He remembered small details about everyone, whether it was what they liked to drink so he could have it on hand the next time they visited, or details about their lives that he could discuss during their next conversation. Steve enjoyed cooking for family and friends, especially on the holidays or that occasional pig roast for family events. Building a fire in the backyard and sharing a glass of Port wine or homemade limoncello with Sandy was one of his favorite ways to spend an evening.

A few of Steve’s Mottos to live by from his StoryWorth book written for his grandchildren:

“Work Hard, Play Hard!

Today may be your last day alive, so treat it like you will not regret today’s actions!

Treat people as you would want to be treated!

If you are going to celebrate New Year’s Eve all night, drink the good stuff first.

Enjoy day to day life. If you like coffee, drink good coffee everyday, not just on vacation.”

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Sandy (47 years), children Sabrina (Mark) Miller, Stephen Andrew Sierawski, grandchildren Colette and Wolfgang Miller, brother Michael Sierawski, in-laws Mary Sierawski, Stephanie & Bob Sheely, Julie & Al Toth, Mark Opsitnik, Robb Opsitnik, Fred Bush, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Steve was preceded in death by his sister Linda Donahue and brother Thomas Sierawski.

In honoring his wishes, there will be no services. Please feel free to share a remembrance.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsouthwest.com for the Sierawski family.