Steven Wayne Songer

Steven W. Songer, 74, of Terre Haute was freed of his Earthly body on January 1, 2024. He was born “very young” in Anderson, IN on January 10, 1949 to Robert Songer and Dorothy (Keesling) Songer. Survivors include his wife, Diane, his three sons Marquis (Karla Pruett and son Calvin), Micah (Adria), and Marshall (Suzi), and his two grandchildren Marissa and Alexander. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Steven was born and raised in Anderson, IN. It was there that he developed a passion for athletics. He attended Madison Heights High School and lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. It was his baseball talent that brought him to Terre Haute. Recruited to play centerfield for Indiana State University, he was excited when he left Anderson in the fall of 1967 to play baseball for the Sycamores at beautiful Memorial Stadium. However, he was shocked to find out when he arrived that Memorial Stadium was being turned into a football stadium and they would be playing their games at what was then Valle Field, now Boys and Girls Club Park. Despite the change in venue and the team always having to remove unauthorized persons from the dugouts before practice, he managed to have a very successful collegiate baseball career. He had fond memories playing in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, KS. His playing days concluded with the semi-professional Hulman Stars baseball club in Terre Haute. He was an ardent Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves baseball fan since 1957.

Although baseball was what brought Steven to ISU, he did manage to earn a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Athletic Administration. He also became a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, where he eventually became a chapter advisor, regional counselor, and alumni corporation president. The most life changing moment of his life, however, also happened at ISU when he met a stunning cheerleader from Gary, IN by the name of Diane Tabla. Steven and Diane became a couple until a family event caused Diane to have to return home, having to put her education on hold in the summer of 1971. Steven went back to Anderson to teach Physical Education and Speech for the Anderson Community School Corporation. He left teaching after a short time to work a brief stint at General Motors. During this time, a recession resulted in Diane having to go to Oregon with her cousin Bruce to find work. This enabled her to save enough money to return home. Diane’s plans to finish her college degree were fading but she was able to secure a loan in the summer of 1972 due to the enactment of Title IX, and enroll in classes at Brigham Young University in Utah. After visiting home, she determined that her $500 Corvair would not get her back to school in Utah so she instead drove with her mother back to Indiana State to re-enroll in classes for the fall semester of 1974. Since they were close, Diane’s mother suggested they drive up to Anderson to visit Steven. When they got to Anderson they called Steven’s house and spoke to his mother, who had informed them that he had actually left Anderson to go back to Terre Haute to work for Indiana State. Long story short, fate intervened and they were reunited on October 2, 1974 for the ISU homecoming. Steven swept Diane off her feet, and a marriage proposal occurred in December of 1974 and they were married 2 months later on February 1, 1975. He loved Diane deeply and never once removed his wedding ring.

The Songer family was established in 1978 with the birth of his first son Marquis. His second son, Micah, followed in 1982 and his 3rd son Marshall completed the family in 1984. Steven adored his three sons. A stranger to no one, he would notice when other families had sons and would tell them they needed to have 3! Steven would go on to spend countless hours at the ball diamond and the basketball gyms teaching his sons the fundamentals of the game. He was a stickler for doing things the right way and knew just the right amount to push his sons to help them reach their full potential. He instilled in his sons a strong work ethic and taught them how to be men both on and off the field.

His influence extended well beyond his own family. He not only coached his three sons, but the sons of many in the community. He was a well-respected coach in youth sports and coached his teams to league, district, and state championships. In the summer of 1991 his 13 year old Babe Ruth baseball team was runner-up at the Ohio Valley Regional, missing the Babe Ruth World Series by one game. He enforced a belief that “what makes a champion is that champions don’t want to win – they expect to win.” Steven expected to win at everything he did in life. Youth athletics weren’t the only thing he made better in his community. He was a member, volunteered, or was a board member in many organizations including the Rotary Club, American Red Cross, United Way, Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Terre Haute, Indiana State University Alumni “I” Club, North Vigo High School RBI Club, Terre Haute Babe Ruth League, Terre Haute North Little League, Terre Haute Boys (and Girls) Club, and the Strawberry Cannoneers. He approached his involvement in charities and organizations with the same “expect to win” mentality and always acted in a manor to bring maximum benefit to the organization, not his own self.

Professionally, Steven worked hard as a Financial Planner, Certified Estate Planner, and a Registered Investment Advisor at Steven W. Songer & Associates, the financial planning practice that he founded in 1988. His goal was to improve the quality of life for his clients and provide them with a financial peace of mind. He was active in his industry, becoming a member and board member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Estate Planning Council of Central Illiana. His most proud business accomplishment was to earn lifetime membership to the Million Dollar Round Table – the premier association of financial professionals that serve their clients with exemplary performance and the highest standard of ethics and professional knowledge.

Steven’s drive to put maximum effort into everything he did eventually took a toll on his body. In his life he was able to overcome being struck in the head by a baseball bat, nearly drowning, and a lightning strike. Diabetes, however, was a different kind of challenge that eventually resulted in a kidney transplant in 2021. He recently persevered through an eleven hour surgery to remove cancer. However, his immune compromised body due to organ transplant anti-rejection medicine could not overcome a COVID infection. He lived by the slogan MTXE – Mental Toughness, eXtra Effort. He didn’t just say it; he demonstrated it daily whether it was on the field, at home, in his office, or at the doctor’s office.

To prevent the spread of illness, a family only service will take place on Tuesday, January 9th at 1pm but the public is invited to watch the service live online. A link to watch online will be made available on funeral home website (www.MattoxWood.com). In the website search box type in Steven Songer and the link will be on the obituary page.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club (https://www.thbgc.org). The family would also like to encourage you to help save a life by becoming an organ donor. If a monetary or organ donation is not possible, you can still contribute by contacting the Indiana High School Athletic Association to tell them that Steve Songer says “class basketball stinks” and to “bring back the single class tournament.”