Steven Hall

Steve Hall always lived his life with just the right ingredients. He was a wonderful man, a funny, fun-loving husband, son, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Steve was a longtime restaurant owner and chef, who had a warm, welcome way with all who ate at his table. More than anything, Steve had a way of making people feel satisfied, sharing in his life, and in his love.

Steve’s story began on a cold fall day in 1948, as the first snow fell in Battle Creek, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this country, as our nation’s heroes returned home victorious from war, and the Baby Boomer generation was born. On December 3, 1948, William and Martha (Nolan) Hall had a boom of their own, with the birth of a baby boy at Lila Hospital, a son they named Steven Gerard Hall.

Steve was the younger of two children in the family, joining his big brother David, who was two years his senior. Steve’s dad was former MP in the Army during World War II, before coming back to Battle Creek to work as Print Supervisor at Goff.

Sadly, Steve’s dad died of a heart attack when Steve was just three years old, and his mother shouldered the burden of raising two young sons alone with incredible strength and grace. She began working full time at Post Cereals, always providing well for her boys. Being the baby of the family, Steve naturally grew up very close to his mother, and learned so well from her example.

Steve and Dave were also very close, with a typical love-hate relationship between brothers. As they grew older, they grew closer, and found their share of mischief over the years, as well. One night when they were teenagers, they waited for their mom to go to sleep, and took her car out for a joyride, only to find her waiting for them in the garage, Electric frying pan cord, upon their return! (They never did that again.)

Steve had many interests growing up, and learned to play the clarinet and the bass clarinet, too. He played on the Battle Creek Central High School marching band, when he wasn’t working after school at a local horse farm or delivering newspapers.

Steve was also a funny, fun-loving young man, who always had many friends. He loved racing cars around as a teen, cruising around and finding adventure with his friends. He also enjoyed learning to cook from his mom, which would become a lifelong passion for him.

After he graduated from Central in 1967, It wasn’t long before he had bigger things on his mind, however.

Steve met a young woman named Mary Howe, and after dating for awhile, they were married on March 16, 1968. Just nine months later, they welcomed their first child, Cheryl. Kimmy followed in 1974, and Tammy rounded out the family in 1976. Years later, the family happily welcomed one more daughter into the fold, a young woman named Jillian Pryor, whom Mary had given up for adoption before she was married. Steve loved Jillian like his own, and they became very close.

Steve worked very hard to provide for his family, first as a manufacturing associate at an air conditioning factory, while moonlighting at a local supermarket, too. Then, in 1977, Steve’s longtime dream became a reality, when he opened his own restaurant, the Family House Restaurant in Galesburg.

The restaurant was truly a labor of love for Steve, who worked incredibly hard to make it a success, often putting in 16-hour days there. It was also a family effort, as everyone from the kids to Steve’s mom pitched in to work there.

Steve was an incredible cook, always searching for new recipes, and was a great boss to work for, as well. He employed an army of mostly young women to help at the restaurant, and became the de facto sounding board and mediator for all of them. When two would have a dispute, he would patiently listen to them, and tell each of them, “Yes, I completely agree”! He found playing them off each other to be incredibly funny and entertaining. That was Steve, though, a man with a tremendous sense of humor.

Steve and his family did much together over the years, and especially enjoyed many great camping trips together. They made so many memories camping over the years, and had plenty of funny stories, too. Once, in the middle of the night, the family awoke to Mary yelling. The camper’s “fold-up bed” had done just that, folding up with Mary caught inside! The family thought this was hilarious, especially his daughters, until of course, the same exact thing happened on another occasion to his daughter Kim. He definitely got the last laugh on that one!

Steve was an incredible Dad, and caring for his kids was his greatest passion. He was a very loving, nurturing and attentive father, and a strong example for his girls, as well.

Steve had many other interests of his own, of course. He bowled in several leagues, enjoyed watching tennis on TV, playing cards, and hitting the open road with his beloved family. He loved his pets, and his friends, and especially his grandchildren, who were truly the light of his life.

Steve’s marriage to Mary eventually came to an end, after 16 years together. Another big change in his life soon followed, when he closed the restaurant in 1990, after 13 wonderful years. He began working in management at several businesses, including Cutlery World, Rite Aid, Kellogg Community College, and eventually at Senior Oil Industries. He was a great manager everywhere he went, and an unquestioned leader, as well.

Steve eventually met a woman named Debra Roots, and the two hit it off and were married on December 5, 1997. He welcomed her three children, Miranda, Cameron and Clifford, treating them as his own. The couple enjoyed several good years together, before Steve and Debra separated, planning to divorce.

Steve’s health began to deteriorate in 2000, forcing him to take early retirement from Senior Oil. Though he was retired and battling his own health troubles, Steve lovingly cared for his mother for many years, until her death in 2007. His spirits were buoyed during this time by his children, grandchildren and many friends, and seeing each of them always brightened his days.

Sadly, Steve’s health continued to decline, and he died on Thursday, February 7, 2008, at the age of 59.

Steve was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of family, friendship and fond memories. He was a loving husband, son, father, grandfather and friend, and an amazing chef, as well. Steve always lived his life with just the right ingredients, sharing plenty of love and laughter with all those around him. He will be greatly missed.

Steve is survived by his children, Cheryl Champine, Kimberly Hall –Kilgore, Tamara Michaud; step-children, Miranda Lux, Cameron Roots, Clifford Roots; and Jillian Pryor; brother, David Hall; nine grandchildren; five nieces and two nephews.