Steven Michael Wright

He was born on March 1, 1990, at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois to Thomas and Laurie (Hickman) Wright. While his permanent residence was Pekin, Illinois, he had lived many places around the United States and abroad. Most recently, he lived in Macomb, Illinois while attending school at Western Illinois University (WIU).

As a child, he attended South Pekin Grade School. He graduated from Pekin Community High School in 2008. He then moved on to Illinois Central College. In July 2009, Steven enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a Mandarin Chinese Cryptologic Linguist and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Leaving the military in 2014, he tried many paths. He spent time in various sale positions, taught English in China for a short time, often worked with his father and uncle as a handyman, spent time as an assistant arborist, and finally as a student worker in the Veterans Resource Center at WIU. In January 2023, he started at WIU and was seeking his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He was on the Dean’s List both semesters that he completed. He expected to graduate in May 2025.

Steven had many hobbies. He was at home in the outdoors. His favorite pastimes were fishing, mushroom and small game hunting. He had a deep love for animals, especially dogs and puppies. Steven was also very family oriented. He was committed to being the best uncle to his six niblings. He coached their little league teams and shared his love of the outdoors by including them with his favorite hobbies. When Steven wasn’t spending time outdoors, he composed poetry and shared his stanzas with friends and family. In 2023, two of Steven’s poems were selected for publication in WIU periodical Elements.

He gained friends wherever he went. Steven had a knack for making you smile even in the most challenging times and had a presence that lit up the room. He could be both a great listener and debater.

Steven loved his family and friends fiercely and was well-known for being the first to arrive in a crisis. He also had an uncanny ability to spot four-leaf clovers, even finding multiples in a day! While his time here was sometimes rough and unexpectedly cut short, it was a life full of laughter and great love. He will be remembered by many around the world.

Mourning his passing are his parents, Thomas and Laurie (Hickman) Wright, his siblings, Kassie Balestrieri and her husband Nick, Kristal Miller, and Whitney Dean and her husband Matt, his niblings, Makinzi Wright, Cali Miller, Connor Miller, Warren Dean, Sierra Dean, and Oliver Dean, his best friend Little Buddy (LB), and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Gordon and Joan Wright, and Gordon’s second wife, Jean, and his maternal grandparents, Warren and Sara Hickman. He was also preceded in death by his aunts Tara Richmond and Susan (Suzie) Evans and uncle Opie Coffey (Jr.).

Family and friends are invited to the memorial visitation which will be held Friday, April 26, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home & Crematory, 500 North Fourth Street, Pekin, Illinois.

A memorial service will occur on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:30 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 2525 S. Skyway Rd., Bartonville, Illinois followed by a Celebration of Life at noon at Pekin Moose Lodge, 2605 Broadway St., Pekin, Illinois.

Memorial contributions may be given to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com