Daniel Stepek

Daniel Thomas Stepek, age 78, died unexpectedly in his Ann Arbor home on July 9, 2022. He and his wife of 56 years, Susan (Beasley) Stepek, have lived in Ann Arbor since January 2011, having previously resided in Ferndale, Mount Clemens, and Clinton Township. They have one child, Peter Daniel Stepek, of New York and Ann Arbor.

Daniel was born on January 26, 1944 in Highland Park, MI, the son of Frank Thomas Stepek and Agnes Theresa (Sasinowski) Stepek. In addition to Susan and Peter, he is survived by three brothers: David (Beth) of Indio, CA, Brian (Valerie) of Cockeysville, MD, and Robert Lawrence (Marie Puls) of Condom, France. He graduated from Ferndale High School in 1961 and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Wayne State University, Detroit. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1969.

Upon graduation from law school, Dan was a research librarian at the Macomb County Circuit Court for a year and then joined the law firm of Daner Freeman McKenzie & Matthews in Mt. Clemens as an associate. Eventually he opened his own law office, also in Mount Clemens, where he maintained a private practice as well as acting as a private mediator for dozens of years, until his retirement in 2020. He was formerly the president of both the Young Lawyers section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Macomb County Bar Association.

Dan married the love of his life, Susan Helen Beasley, on September 11, 1965. Together they enjoyed all kinds of music and performance arts, collecting art, traveling in Europe, their beautiful vacation home on Lake Huron in Bayfield (Ontario), and a huge array of loving and long-time friends. Dan was also a serious runner who ran nine marathons, as well as playing racquetball, golf and bridge. He was trained at several professional culinary schools and liked nothing better than planning, shopping for and preparing five-star meals for Susan and Peter and many of their very lucky family and friends.

In addition to his professional life, Dan was a long-time volunteer at various nonprofits, including but not limited to tutoring elementary-age students in the Detroit Public Schools, the Family Learning Institute, Children’s Literacy Network (serving as a board member), and in recent years he assisted in preparing meals every Wednesday afternoon at the Community Kitchen of the Robert J. Delonis Center (Food Gatherers). He has also served on the Judicial Qualification Committee of the State Bar of Michigan since 1980, including 15 years as co-chairperson of that committee.

There will be a memorial celebration of Dan’s life for family and friends at 2 pm, Sunday, July 17, 2022 at the Clubhouse at Stonebridge Golf Club in Ann Arbor. His body was donated to Gift of Life.

Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Dan are invited to do so to either Food Gatherers, 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or the Children’s Literacy Network, 1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

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