Steve Appel

When Steve was just a teenager in Brooklyn, he would watch the ships sail out to sea and would wonder where they were going. He dreamed of the adventures on which they embarked and wanted to be on an adventure as well. This inspired him to join the Navy, where he trained to be an airplane mechanic and served in Vietnam on the USS Coral Sea. Although his time in the Navy was short, he was always very proud of his service. After returning from Vietnam, he began a career as an airplane mechanic at American Airlines that spanned over 30 years. Anyone who met Steve knew he would talk to anyone and everyone about airplanes. It did not matter if you were a long-time friend or a total stranger. He enjoyed aviation so much that at one point, he volunteered his time restoring the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Museum in New York City.

After returning from Vietnam, Steve met and married his first wife, Ellen Hauben. They raised a daughter (Dana) and a son (Brian). Steve was a dedicated husband and father. For years, he worked the overnight shift at Kennedy Airport, in Queens NY, which was located over an hour from his home. Yet he still made time to have dinner each night with his family and remained deeply involved in his kids’ lives. He coached and refereed their soccer games, drove them to countless school and synagogue functions, and always made time for family vacations.

Steve and Ellen retired to Las Vegas, Nevada. In retirement, he loved playing golf, watching classic science fiction and war movies, traveling, and clay pigeon shooting.

Several years after Ellen passed away, Steve married Suzanne Harman and gained a stepdaughter (Gina) and a stepson (Tony).

After marrying Suzanne, Steve developed some new interests. The one that often amazed his family was the way in which he would aggressively seek out deals on E-Bay, Amazon, or even at the local grocery stores. He would get so excited when he found a great deal, he would often justify his purchases with the line, “Why buy one when you can buy two.” He and Suzanne closely followed politics and frequently questioned Brian about the news of the day. He also enjoyed grilling out, cooking Chinese food, and finding things to fix around the house.

He also gradually gained an appreciation for Green Bay Packer football as his wife, Suzanne, was an avid fan. They would watch every broadcasted game and would grumble when they weren’t on TV. There was always lots of cheering or lots of yelling at the television during games depending on how the Packers were playing.

Throughout his life, Steve maintained a quirky and self-deprecating sense of humor and never minced words about what he really thought. Most important, he remained deeply committed to his family’s happiness and wellbeing.

Steve is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his children, Dana and Brian, his stepchildren, Gina and Tony, his grandchildren, Lily and Benjamin, and his brother, Larry.

May his memory be a blessing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Appel family.