Patrick Anthony Steichen

With heavy hearts and boundless love that we look forward to seeing our incredible son, brother, and uncle again. He touched the lives of everyone blessed enough to know him.

Our Gentle Giant with an unmatched heart, steadfast integrity, and endless love was born at Carson Tahoe Medical Center in Carson City Nevada in 2001.

At his passing he stood tall at 6’7”, his towering stature was surpassed only by the size of his heart, his warm humor, and his unwavering loyalty to his family and friends.

From the very beginning, he brought a pure and gentle light into this world. As a boy, his sweet, innocent spirit was matched by an unbreakable bond with his mom, Teri, whom he loved more than anything in the world and it showed at every bedtime that never seemed simple, with him playfully wandering out of his bedroom four or five times each night just to have someone lay beside him until he finally fell asleep.

His room was his kingdom, decked out in his favorite superhero, Spider-Man, where he dreamed big and developed an enduring determination to master everything he set his mind to. If he wasn’t immediately perfect at something, his stubborn drive kicked in until he conquered it whether driving down the lane at the local rec center basketball court or commanding the mound as a high school pitcher. Though he would never readily admit it out loud, having his mom, dad, and sisters cheering from behind the fence at every game meant the world to him.

His relentless commitment to excellence carried over seamlessly into his career at FRC East. He began his career path on the AV-8 line alongside his dad, Steve Schuermann, determined never to give anyone reason to doubt his grit or dedication. He quickly earned the trust and deep affection of seasoned artisans, forming bonds that extended far beyond the hangar floor. Advancing into the C-130 community, he emerged as a true rising star and respected leader. He held fast to the conviction of doing things the right way, and never cutting corners. Quality inspectors, management, and fellow artisans revered his daily craftsmanship and work ethic, looking to him as both an experienced artisan and a dependable assistant if needed.

Outside of work, his vibrant personality and generous nature lit up every room and gathering. He stayed fiercely loyal to the friends he grew up with and made connections everywhere he went. On the golf course, he was an absolute fashionista, sporting the sharpest polos, khakis pants or shorts and bright white legs while effortlessly raking in fantasy football purses, never missing a chance to tease his dad about missing out on "the cash" from excessive overtime and his fantasy football winnings. Whether assembling a collection of fishing rods that could rival the Big Rock tournament, heading out for target shooting with close buddies, or spending late hours on PlayStation simply to stay connected with his friends, his focus was always on the people he cared about.

Protective to his core, he never hesitated to be the designated driver so that his family and friends could celebrate freely and return home safe.

Above all else, his heart belonged to his family. His mom, Teri, made it her life’s mission to track down clothes that fit his 6’7” frame and ensured both refrigerators were endlessly stocked with enough food to keep him happy.

His dad Steve was always extremely proud of his achievements across every job and position he ever held, especially, at the Depot. After opening up about "frustrating work leaders" Patrick and his dad Steve both ensured every phone call ended with a heartfelt “Love You.”

His sisters, Samantha and Brittany, were his lifelong partners in crime who made sure any prospective girlfriend was ready for a thorough, high-clearance “Yankee White” background check. Yet among all his roles, few brought him greater joy than being "Uncle Bubba." His beloved nieces and nephews loved nothing more than using him as their personal living recliner and schooling him on his own PlayStation.

A celebration of Patrick's life will be announced at a later date.

Patrick is survived by his mother, Teri; his dad, Steve; his father, Michael; his sisters, Samantha and her husband Austin, and Brittany and her husband Paul; and his nieces and nephews, Emberly, Aubrey, Oliver, and Harrison.

Family, along with lifelong friends, teammates, and the Fleet Readiness Center East community, his legacy of kindness, laughter, quiet strength, and unconditional devotion will remain etched forever in our hearts.

Everyone will miss you a lot buddy!