Steven R. Gottry

Steven was born on December 7, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Roger Eugene Gottry and Helen Viola Gottry (Johnson). He grew up in a loving home with his father, mother, and beloved younger brother, Daniel Eugene Gottry. Steve spent his early years in southwestern Minnesota, graduating from Mountain Lake High School in 1965.

After high school, Steven was off to the University of Minnesota, where he met his first wife, Joanne, and graduated with two bachelor’s degrees in 1970—one in Advertising and one in Radio-Television Production. Joanne and Steve had two wonderful children, Jonathan Matthew and Michelle Elizabeth, prior to their divorce in 1978. Steve later wrote in a letter that Michelle was “so easy to love,” and Jon was his “buddy” who called him multiple times each week just to talk.

In the coming years, Steven fell in love with boats, then Karla, then airplanes. His first boat was a 15-foot Plastron with a 70 HP Johnson outboard motor, but he ultimately upgraded to a 30-foot Trojan with a fly bridge and sleeping accommodations for four that he had until 1994. There are many fond memories of his boating days.

In 1980, Steven saw Karla while she was out at lunch with her boss at Steak and Ale, and he walked right up to her and kissed her. Bold strategy, but it worked! Though, it wasn’t until over a year later that they started dating. The two were married on November 7, 1984, and this year (2023) would have been their 39th wedding anniversary.

In 1982, Steven got his private pilot’s license, and in 1983 he purchased his first plane, N2857X, a 1979 Piper Arrow IV with retractable gear and a full instrument package. He earned his instrument rating in that same airplane in October of 1985. He loved inviting friends and family on airplane rides.

In 1988, Kalla Paige was born. At first, Steven was reluctant to have another child, but he loved her from the first moment he laid eyes on her. All of the hospice nurses and aides would later share that Steven was always talking about her—he was so proud of her, his pride and joy.

The three of them moved to Arizona on July 31, 1996. Steve drove his red Chrysler LeBaron convertible with the top down the entire 1,800 miles—grinning the whole way.

Steven loved writing, reading, music, movies (like James Bond), boating, space, airplanes, traveling, camping, pizza, wine, and chocolate cake, but not as much as he loved his wife, his kids, his family, and his friends.

He lived for his connections with other people, keeping many friendships alive for over 60 years. Not only did Steven maintain friendships with people from grade school, he was constantly making new friends all throughout his life.

He cherished the relationship he had with Ken Blanchard, and was so proud of the books and work that they had done together.

Steven was a Creative Writing teacher at Grand Canyon University, and maintained relationships with many of his students, as both a mentor and a friend. He loved watching other people succeed in their creative endeavors!

He was also a long-time member of the Dobson Ranch Toastmasters group, where he made some of his very best friends and gave some hilarious speeches. He also joined Toastmasters “Blue” where members would share off-color jokes and stories.

He loved Facebook because it allowed him to maintain connections with all of the people he cherished—as well as share his stories and his hatred for Joe Biden. Love him or hate him, Steven was never afraid to be himself and share his opinion.

Steven did not live an ordinary life, but a truly extraordinary one. He loved to share his stories, and we loved to listen.

He has flown planes, commanded boats, written many books and screenplays, taken pictures of The Beatles and other celebrities, voted in every single election for which he was eligible, and survived seven brutal knee surgeries, as well as quadruple bypass heart surgery (and many more that he would gladly tell you about if he were still here.)

Steven may not have written a “New York Times Best Seller” as he always said he would, but he did leave his children a 75-page recollection of his life story. This is arguably his most important and cherished work.

Even in his struggle, Steven persevered, maintained his faith in God, and always found a way to crack a witty, often self-deprecating, joke. “Don’t get old,” he would say.

Although his passing was sudden and we will miss him dearly, we find peace in knowing he is no longer in pain and bedridden, and his Spirit is revived in Christ.

He is survived by his wife and constant companion, Karla, his son, Jon, daughters Michelle (Jared) and Kalla Paige (Jake), his granddaughter, Hallie Grace, step-grandchildren, Addie, Aria, and Emery, sister-in-law, Sandra, and nephews Josh (Amy) and James (Lea) and their children. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Helen Gottry, as well as his beloved brother, Daniel, who passed just six weeks prior to Steve.

Services will be Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery in Scottsdale, AZ. Visitation at 12pm, service at 1pm, internment at 2pm, and a reception/celebration at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to UMOM New Day Centers (https://umom.org/donate/).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenacresmortuary.net for the Gottry family.