Steven John Aufderheide walked through life the way he walked the golf course–steady, focused, generous with his time, and joyful in the journey. On June 11, 2025, Steve passed peacefully with loved ones near. At 81, his scorecard read a life well played, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, creativity, and deep love for family, friends, and the world around him.

Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, on August 16, 1943, to Jack and Joyce Aufderheide, Steve grew up with a mechanical mind, an artistic soul, and a heart wide open to people, stories, and life’s everyday wonders. He was the oldest of four children, preceded in death by his siblings Jim and Kay, with his brother Bill still here to share memories.

For 60 remarkable years, Steve shared his life with his wife and best friend, Katie (DeSanto). They married on July 2, 1965, and built a life full of love and unwavering partnership. They had three children Steve Aufderheide, Lisa Avedon, and Melissa Avedon, and enjoyed seven grandchildren (Brady, Zack, AJ, Ashley, Jordan, Ally and Jack) who knew him as PopPop and Papa, their champion of fun, adventure, and the occasional whipped or shaving cream fight.

Steve’s heart belonged to his family, and his soul thrived in the world. Fluent in English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese, and conversant in Russian, Steve built bridges across cultures and continents. For 35 years, he served in international finance at IBM, where he played a pivotal role in opening emerging markets in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Russia, and Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He approached this work with generosity, cultural grace, and the simple but profound habit of asking strangers his two favorite questions “What’s your name?” and “Where are you from?”

He was a gifted storyteller and a lover of life, an artist, a musician, and a natural teacher. He played piano and guitar, painted and drew, restored classic cars to showroom beauty, and could fix anything with clever ingenuity. Rare, vintage Corvettes, lovingly restored by his own hands, were a symbol of his patient craftsmanship and pride. From dismantling appliances as a child to restoring engines and teaching his grandchildren how to water ski, Steve brought wonder, learning, and a touch of fun and magic to everything he did.

He loved trees, nature, walks in the woods, waterskiing on glassy lakes, and, above all, golf. A lifelong golfer, he played for the University of Minnesota and spent countless joyful days on the course. Golf wasn’t just a game for Steve; it was a rhythm for life. And life, for him, was always played in the spirit of honor and fun. It’s comforting to imagine him now, teeing off under heavenly skies with some of the greatest golfers of all time with him.

Steve’s warmth was magnetic. His hugs were big and grounding. His kindness was constant. He noticed the quiet person at the party, struck up conversations with strangers, and always offered a helping hand. He made people feel seen. He made people laugh. He made people feel better. He believed in staying engaged with life, whether dancing with Katie in the kitchen or admiring a sunset or taking a long drive in his Corvette with the top down and 50’s music playing.

His joy in the simple and the special was contagious. He loved Christmas and Halloween, sharing silly poems and magic tricks with his grandchildren, indulging in chocolate chip cookies and milkshakes, and singing along to The Beach Boys, especially his all-time favorite, “409,” which he declared “the greatest love song ever written”.

He lived big, laughed hard, listened deeply, and loved fully.

He will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

A private celebration of life will be held by the family in coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, please honor Steve’s memory by donating to The Alzheimer’s Association, or noticing someone who feels unseen, offering a kind word, taking a walk under the trees, or simply making someone smile. That’s what he would have done.

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