Stephen Jason Soriano was born on March 4, 1962, in San Antonio, Texas, to his loving parents, Hildo and Janie (Simmons) Soriano. He passed into God's arms on the night of December 4, 2021.

Steve felt he was the luckiest kid in the world to grow up in the red clay hills of Georgia. He also lived in Mississippi, and these two locations gave him his slightly southern accent. The family later returned to Texas and lived on property near Atascosa, Texas. He graduated from nearby Southwest High School in 1980.

Steve has always worked and has learned a variety of trades. One of his first jobs was working with a friend and the friend's father to refurbish and set up mobile homes. This is where he learned to be a great handyman. In 1981, Steve worked in various positions at Bordier's Nursery where he met Patty, the love of his life, and they were married four years later. He worked on oil derricks all across Texas, and always missed the excitement of that industry. In 1991, he began his career in commercial building maintenance when he was hired at USAA. He honed his skills through the years managing retail banking centers throughout South Texas, managing water treatment centers for large companies throughout San Antonio, managing critical operation campuses and forty-one retail banking centers for JP Morgan Chase, managing facilities operations and data center for Lee Technologies, managing five operations centers and eighteen financial centers for DTZ. In his last position, he was the Senior Manager of Facility Operations for KCI/3M in San Antonio.

In October of 2020, a brain tumor was found, and Stage IV lung cancer was diagnosed after a biopsy. He endured sixteen chemo/immunotherapy sessions for the lung tumors and three gamma knife radiation treatments for the brain tumors. From the beginning, he chose to see every challenge in a positive light, and he was at peace every step of his difficult journey.

Steve's bucket list was different. He didn't want to parachute from an airplane. He didn't want to hike the Appalachian Trail. He wanted to make sure that he did everything possible to make Patty's transition easier when the time came for him to leave. He sold the equipment which would no longer be used, he transferred titles, he left instructions for the dryer vent and A/C filters. And he planned every bit of his funeral, including music, photos, mementos, and choosing a unique casket which is perfect for him.

Steve loved to travel and enjoyed trips from Alaska to Venezuela, Vancouver to Baltimore, and the Mexico border to the Canadian border. He and Patty shared many wonderful trips, including cruises, which began with their honeymoon, when they believed it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, yet they went again and again. The last cruise was to Alaska for their 25 ^th anniversary, where they renewed their wedding vows after he got down on one knee to propose.  Something he didn't do the first time. They later purchased an RV and rambled across the West to visit Yellowstone, Utah, and many trips to New Mexico.

Steve loved the simple things in life: oatmeal cakes, floating in the pool, a good whiskey (or even a not-so-good whiskey), his mother's fried chicken, westerns, Looney Tunes, Readers Digest, Patty's spaghetti, mowing his lawn, and just hanging out with friends and family. He loved silly movies like Robin Hood Men in Tights, Trading Places, Madea, and Blazing Saddles, and he would watch many movies over and over, every time he found them on TV. One of these was Shawshank Redemption. His favorite of all time would have to be Lonesome Dove. He recently mentioned he wanted to see it one more time. When his friends Dick and Julie heard this, they ordered it for him, and he was able to relive the journey of Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae. The line that was quoted while Gus was dying, is one that Steve applied to his own experience: "By God, (Woodrow), it's been one hell of a party."

Steve enjoyed a good round of golf and beating his brothers at their game. If they couldn't play a course, they would bet on the outcome of any tournament on TV. With the help of our county Veteran Services Office, he wanted to donate his golf clubs to a veteran who would like to engage with others through the game. He loved to hunt and felt that the camaraderie with the other hunters was more important than any horns he might bring home. And fishing was probably his favorite pastime if he was with the people he loved. A bad day of fishing was always better than the best day at work. Many lines got wet in Rockport where he spent time with his brothers, Frank and Scott, his brother-in-law, David, and nephews, Clint, Matt and Stuart….all his favorite fishing partners. One of his favorite memories was the trip to the boundary waters of Minnesota with these same family members.

Steve never met a stranger and whether it was planned or not, he became a mentor and role model to others. He was honorable and respectful, caring and loving, kind and compassionate.

Staying behind to celebrate his life are his soulmate and wife of forty years, Patty (Chester) Soriano; brothers, Frank Soriano (Pamela), and Scott Soriano (Julie); sister, Carla Marolt (Gregg Beerman); brother-in-law, David Marolt; beloved nephews and nieces, Chris Soriano, Andrew Soriano, Alexandra Soriano, Ava Soriano, Matthew Marolt, Clinton Marolt, Stuart Marolt, Tara Bonugli, Chelsea Hurtado, Bryce Chester, and Taylor Chester; many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He will be missed by the many friends he made over the years.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Hildo and Janie; his beloved mother-in-law and father-in-law, Myrt and Jim Chester; and many other family members that have been waiting for him.

Asked to accompany their friend to his final resting place are Troy Orsack, Russell Price, Lloyd Scott, David Marolt, Joe Belmarez, and Steve McClellan. Honorary pallbearers also escorting Steve will include Nathan Lessing, Matt Rothe, Richard Bowles, Guy Lessing, Stuart Marolt, Matt Marolt, and Clint Marolt.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 9, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville. Interment will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Castroville.

If you attend either of the services for Steve, Patty respectfully asks that you wear a mask to protect others and yourself. Masks will also be provided.

Memorials can be made in Stephen's memory to the American Cancer Society or Wounded Warrior Project.

The funeral service will be live-streamed on the Facebook page for the Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville. https://www.facebook.com/ZionCastrovilleLCMC It will also be available to watch afterward.