Steve Tenbarge

Steve was born in Princeton Indiana on July 20, 1951 to Glenn & Helen TenBarge.

He grew up in Haubstadt, Indiana, attended Saints Peter & Paul through the 8th grade and graduated from Haubstadt High school, where he was captain of the basketball team.

He left home after high school to attend school in Kansas City, KS with the dream to become an airplane pilot.

On November 7, 1970 he married his high school sweetheart, Bobbi Ziliak, TenBarge and on December 11th 1971 they welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Steven Michael (Mick), whom Steve adored.

His dream of being an airline pilot was cut short when he was drafted and chose to join the Air Force. Steve served in the Air Force for 6 years. It was while in the Air Force that he went to school to learn all about computers. His career was spent in the IT field with Hitachi Data Systems where he made many lifelong friends and traveled the world. Steve was a great leader and mentor with an astounding ability to encourage and positively influence so many lives. He continued his career moving up into leadership and consulting roles. He was so well respected and loved by all who grew to know him and was blessed to watch Mick follow in his IT footsteps and was very proud of the man he grew up to be.

In 2003 Steve welcomed a new member to complement his family, Lynn DeVries, TenBarge and from there his family to include his first Grandson, Nathan Taylor TenBarge in 2005 and his second Grandson, Nicholas Robert TenBarge in 2008.

Steve's greatest joy in life was spending time with family and friends. Every Sunday began his week with Mass, breakfast and a day full of family activities including his Grandson's adamantly asking "Pa are you done eating yet we want to go run!" Sunday were always completed with a family dinner full of love and laughter that often included the close friends whom he considered his family. His character was that of strength, determination, joy and friendship which many say reminded them of John Wayne. While he had that image of such a strong charismatic man, he spent many evenings sitting with his Grandson's in his lap reading stories and teaching them anything he could.

On, February 10, 2014 he peacefully went to be with his father, but he will be remembered on earth as a fantastic son, loving husband, wonderful father, best brother, true friend and the World's Greatest Grandpa.

Steve is survived by his loving wife Bobbi TenBarge, children Mick TenBarge and his wife Lynn, grandchildren Nathan and Nicholas TenBarge, mother Helen TenBarge, siblings Tammy McCarty and her husband Richard, Terry TenBarge, Kimberlee Bilderback and her husband Tony and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
A Service outside of Mass will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 12:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023 with Father Bruce Bradley, Celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve's name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society http://www.lls.org/#/waystohelp/donate/