Steven Lee Hatch was born July 13, 1948 in Sac City to Elwood and Finis (McBride) Hatch, the 3rd and final boy in the family.  He attended school at Early and Crestland (Early and Nemaha) and was baptized and confirmed at the Early United Methodist Church.

   Steve spent most of his life in the Early and Nemaha area where he enjoyed farming with his father.  He was married to Judy Gustafson and later divorced.  When his parents retired from farming, Steve worked several jobs in the area including 13 years at Bil-Mar Foods (Sara Lee) in Storm Lake.  During this time he moved to his grandparent’s farm west of Nemaha.  Steve was still living on the family farm at the time of his recent hospitalization.

   When Steve was forced to retire from Bil-Mar Foods due to breathing problems in 2003, he never gave up his love for the farm and while his activities were restricted, he spent many happy years caring for his lawn and raising a large garden.

   Steve preferred living by himself but he did offer his friendship to a local woman who also seemed content to live alone.  That started a 12-year friendship where their favorite Sunday afternoon activity was to drive around on gravel roads checking out crops, livestock, and farmsteads.  They also dabbled in raising a few pigs together, had fun with Steve’s antique farm equipment bailing hay, spreading manure, grinding corn, and riding a 4-wheeler over the pasture.  Steve continued tending to a few barn cats and geese.

   Steve suffered a stroke on June 21, 2015, and fought a valiant battle to regain his speech and the use of his right arm and leg but a subsequent stroke in his final week took away his chance for recovery.  Steve passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View.

   He is survived by his brother Don Hatch and wife Mary Ellen of Sac City; nieces and nephews: Kevin (Katie) Hatch of Sac City, Kandi (Dan) Millard of Carroll, Karmel (Tom) Sueppel of West Des Moines, and Klint (Kristie) Hatch of Sioux Rapids; extended family members; and his friend Marlys Waters of Nemaha.

   Steve was preceded in death by his parents Elwood and Finis Hatch; brother Roger Hatch; and all his grandparents.