April 1, 1951 – May 23, 2018

Stephen E. Heuer, 67, of Dowagiac, peacefully passed away in his home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

Steve was born on April 1, 1951, in Coldwater, Michigan, the son of Lawrence S. and Shirley (Mack) Heuer of Burlington, Michigan. He graduated from Union City High School. While in high school, he started working for Post Cereal, which later became Kraft Foods, in Battle Creek and continued to work there until his retirement in 2005.

On June 18, 1996, he married Sara (Lott) Paulsen of Dowagiac. In his younger years, Steve enjoyed playing softball and having lots of fun doing things he probably should not have been doing. He lived to deer hunt. He used his vacation every year to spend in the woods, hunting the “Big One.” He and Sara loved windmills and after a lot of searching, were unable to find anyone that would part with one, so found a dear Amish man who built a 40-foot one for them out of wood and it was placed at their home while Steve was recuperating from major brain surgery in 1997. He enjoyed his time with his friends of the Cass County Draft Horse Club and showing his Percheron, Diamond, at the local county fairs. Steve was a jokester with the grandkids and loved teasing them. During his last years, he enjoyed watching the deer, turkeys, and birds, and even mastered playing cards on the computer. His precious Schnauzer, Muffin, has to be credited with keeping him going for so long as she was such a joy and was so much company to him.

Steve was preceded in death by his father; his loving son, Max and his son-in-law, Dale Case.

He is survived by his wife, Sara; his daughter, Kelli (Jeremy Mattinson) Case, of Athens; his sons, Chad (Leanne) Heuer of Coldwater, Skip Heuer, of Hillsboro, Illinois; and step-son, Adam (Bridget) Paulsen, of Chicago; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two more on the way.

The family would like to thank the doctor, nurses, and chaplain with Reverence Hospice of Kalamazoo for the wonderful care of Steve, which allowed him to stay at home and also  two dear friends who are nurses, that have helped from time to time: Mary Jerz and Suzie Suseland.

In keeping with Steve’s wishes, there will be no services. He will be cremated and his immediate family will gather at his home sometime this summer to spread his remains along with some of his son, Max’s, by his windmill so that he and Max can keep an eye out for the “Big One.”

Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Cass County Draft Horse Club in care of the Cass County Fair Association and to his family, in care of his wife, Sara.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com