Steven Conway

Steven John Conway, age 68, passed away at his Waseca home on Sunday morning, February 3, 2019, with his family at his side.   His cancer diagnosis from October, 2018, found this date too soon for his passing but the Lord called him home early. 

Born to John and Verla Conway in Waseca, Minnesota, on November 30, 1950, Steve was the second of eight of their children.  Spending some of his early life on the  farm was memorable for Steve.  After moving to town for his seventh-grade year in school, he enjoyed the freedom of small-town life. 

Steve sought out as his bride, Judith (Clemons) Conway early in life, and they were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Waseca, MN, on April 29, 1972.  It was his love for Jude and his five children, spouses and grandchildren that he found completeness in life.  Katie Marie (Brad Dahnert), Owatonna; Jacob Clemons (Rose McDonald), Temecula, CA; Jessica Michelle (Tony Gentry), Palm Desert, CA; Samuel Muldoon (SueEllen Pinto), Poway, CA; Stephanie Jude (Joseph Goetz), Owatonna, MN; and nine grandchildren (Emma, Zachary (Dahnert); Noah, KC (Conway); Keeva, Magnus (Gentry), Sylas (Conway); Miles and Olive (Goetz) were the apples of his eyes. 

Steve most recently had been self-employed and was a recruiter hiring oil and gas engineers for select oil companies.  He had also begun other on-line entrepreneurial work.  Steve started an entrepreneurial spirit approach to employment early in his high school life.  He got exercise in high school through his paper routes, but then enjoyed the food and people at Spence Larson’s Dairy Queen.  He worked as a go-pher and carpenter with Kohnert and Youngberg Construction in his summer months.  He hand-dug graves at the Sacred Heart Calvary Cemetary in Waseca during this time.  In fact, his earnings from grave digging funded a great honeymoon trip that Steve and Jude took to Disney World.  As a real estate salesman with Waseca Real Estate, Steve enjoyed the company of his dad and met fantastic people along the way.  Moving to New Ulm, MN, in the early 1980’s, Steve sold life insurance in that area.  When the family moved back to Waseca in later 1980’s, Steve spent days in the sun climbing ladders with his Conway Painting business.  Marrying into the Clemons family, Steve also drove school bus and charter bus part-time for Clemons Bus Lines with Milt and Winn.

Steve and Jude had a special interest in the Christian mission and goals of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) serving as a State Board Member.  As local huddle leaders, introducing young people to FCA and then chaperoning them to national conferences was important.  Steve is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

As an avid sports enthusiast, Steve found great joy in engaging in any conversation that involved local to international sporting events, teams, or players.  He had a love for the logistics of the game.  As a Sacred Heart (SH) School student in Waseca, Steve was a SH Scarlet four-sport athlete.  After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the University of Minnesota Gopher football team.  His time in the summer was spent working and playing softball and baseball.  He later did some coaching and refereeing as his children engaged in sports.

The best sport and school time in Steve’s life was watching his five children participate as athletes in many sports, music events, academic teams, and other extra-curricular activities as Waseca Bluejays.   Owatonna sports and music have been added to that genre of events with the oldest grandchildren living in Owatonna.  Steve loved the bike trails in Waseca.  He often traveled where Jude wanted to go whether it was California, Ireland, or any place that business or pleasure took them. 

Steve was preceeded in death by John Joseph Conway (Father); Patrick Conway (Brother); Milton and Winifred Clemons (Father and Mother-in-Law), and Patrick Clemons, (Brother-in-Law).  Surviving siblings include Jeff (Carol), Beth Taylor, John, Kris (Steve Harmeyer), Alice (Jeffrey Brown), Mary, and Patrick’s wife (Keen Conway.)  Sisters and brother-in-laws, Mike (Beth) Clemons, Mary (Dan) Kortuem, Jeanne (Vance) Swanson, Lisa (David) Byron.  Steve’s mom, Verla (Schoenrock) Conway, resides in Waseca. 

The Greeting and Wake Services will be held at Kinder-Dennis from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, February 8, 2019.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, February 9, 2019, beginning at 10:00 am with a Greeting and Wake starting at 9:00 am at Sacred Heart Church.  Private burial for Steven will be held with wife, children and grandchildren following at Waseca Sacred Heart Calvary Cemetery.   

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