Stephen Edward Kuper
1948 – 2019
Stephen Edward Kuper was born January 15, 1948 in Oklahoma City at St. Anthony Hospital to Morris John Kuper, Sr. and Anita Kathleen Stephenson Kuper. He died peacefully at home November 9, 2019 in Edmond, Oklahoma after a fall and a stroke.
He is survived by his wife Trish Perkins Kuper; his older daughters Kristie (Marc) McCoombe, and Michelle Kuper; Claire (Joshua) Coffee, Cecelia (Ian) Eastland and John Stephen Kuper, and grandchildren Shawnlyn and Ashley Deitz and Rose Coffee. In addition, he leaves his brothers Morris John (Cheryl) Kuper, Jr., Scott Kuper, and Tom (Beth) Kuper, his brother-in-law Philip (Lyles) Perkins, and nieces/nephews Caroline, Ford and Lara Kuper; and Alan, Brian, Edward and Neal Perkins.
His parents Morris and Kathy Kuper, his in-laws Audie and Claire Perkins, his beloved grandparents Agnes and Casper Kuper, and Sadie and Tom Stephenson all predecease him.
Steve attended Lone Star Elementary, Corpus Christi School and graduated in 1966 from Edmond High School (Go Bulldogs!) He studied Computer Science at Central State College (now UCO) completing all but 20 hours of a Bachelor’s Degree.
His career in computers took him from punch cards to mainframe systems, with employment at the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Mistletoe Express, Republic Supply, Scrivner and Hertz. He retired in 2007 and spent many hours volunteering at Washington Irving Elementary School.
He enlisted in the Air Force Reserves in 1968 and served for several years during the Vietnam Era. It was then he met his best friend Bob Patterson, with whom he made weekly trips to refill his “salsa meter”, up until the week prior to his final illness.
He loved music and sang bass with the Archdiocesan Chorale. As a cantor and choir member at both St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (OKC) and St. Monica Catholic Church (Edmond), he often sang at multiple services every weekend. His longest-running and most favorite gig was singing with his family in the car.
Steve had several hobbies that gave him great pleasure through the years. He was an amateur photographer, a sailor (having owned two Hobie cats), a model railroader, and a pilot of radio-controlled airplanes. He spent hours building planes from scratch and flying them at the TORKs field in Oklahoma City.
Steve was a ham radio operator (KC5RYT) with many years of membership with the Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS), serving as President, Board Member and Parade Coordinator at various times. He provided communications for parades in Edmond and Oklahoma City, and participated for years in the monthly storm siren tests in Edmond. His was a familiar voice on the EARS repeater, checking in weekly on air for the Monday Night Net up until a few weeks prior to his death.
A devout Catholic, Steve was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Monica, and achieved his Fourth Degree as a Knight in 2010. As such, he participated in honor guards at events at St. Monica and in the Archdiocese. He had a strong belief in Jesus Christ and the Church and humbly lived a life of faith and service.
He enjoyed watching football, and rooted for both OU and OSU until it came time for the bedlam game, when he chose red and Trish chose orange. He was a golfer who sometimes had more enthusiasm than skill.
He was generous with his time and his money. He loved his family deeply and was proud to have served his country, his church and his community.
The details of his life as written here cannot capture the full essence of the man that he was; a kind, generous, loving man who will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
The family extends grateful thanks to the doctors and nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital and Mercy Hospice for the care provided to Steve. Memorial donations in his name can be made to Edmond Mobile Meals.
A public visitation will be held at Matthews Funeral Home on Friday, November 15 from 12:00 – 8:00 P.M. with a wake at 7:00 P.M.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 1:30 P.M. He will be buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery at Lockridge.
I worked with Steve years ago at the Oklahoma Tax Commission and at Mistletoe Express. He was such a wonderful person. I am so sorry for your loss.
Sincerely, Susan Smith
Steve was a classmate of mine of EHS Class of ’66. I’m saddened by his passing. He was a valued “Bulldog” and just an all-around good guy. He was always friendly and nice to everyone. I always enjoyed being around him at school. He will be missed by all of us of the Class of ’66. Unfortunately, as time passes, we have lost another member of our class. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time. May the Love of Christ be with him and all of his family and friends. May God smile and welcome him into Heaven. I’m sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to all of you. May his memories be Blessed. May you all be comforted and at peace.
Sincerely,
Steven Fears
In the all-too-short time my family and I got to call Edmond home, we had the pleasure of knowing Steve and his family. We got to see him at work as a loving husband, supportive father, contributor at our parish (St. Monica) and a brother Knight of Columbus.
I personally witnessed Steve at his best, caring for his wife and children, supporting them through moments of joy and enduring periods of great adversity. Through it all, Steve put himself second or even third.
Kimberly and I are saddened to know of his passing, and hold Trish and the girls in our thoughts and prayers. Steve has left a lasting mark on the world and in the lives of those dear to him, and an example for his family and community to follow.
Steve and Trish were faithful members of St Monica choir on Sundays, this included childbearing and child rearing days. Harvey and I called their children “the choir babies!” It was common to see one, or both, of them rocking a baby in arms or bouncing a baby on a hip while they sang. We watched Claire, Cecilia and John grow up. We had not seen Steve for years, but still are so saddened at his passing. Just grateful for knowing such a loving family.
May your sadness and loss be filled with sweet memories. His memory will live in the ripples of kindness and counsel he so unselfishly provided so many in our community. Honored to have been a classmate, Tina Bloomer Kiser
Trish, hugs and prayers for you today and in the days to follow.
I remember Steve at Corpus Christi. It was during the summer between the 4th and 5th grade that he and I put up a wire antenna at his house so he could get better reception on a little Knightkit shortwave radio. We lost touch after grade school. However, your final resting place, St Patrick’s, is next to my parish church, St Damien. I will always remember the great friendship and good times we had as kids. Rest in Peace, my childhood friend!