Steve was the middle son, born to Dula & Norva Chapel. Steve passed away after an unfortunate accident.

Steve was a Grand Junction native, growing up watching streets get paved and playing in houses under construction in his middle of town neighborhood. He graduated from Grand Junction High, class of 69, followed by Mesa College.

Steven had a variety of jobs from pre-high school on to finance is love for motorcycles. Steve had a couple different dirt bikes and raced in 250 & Open Class on Whitewater Hill & 29 Road tracks.

Steven went to work maintaining the road from Loma to beyond Douglas Pass for what was then known as the Colorado Department of Highways. After 4 years, he became bored and decided to follow another path. He sold most of his belongings and he and his cat moved to Los Angeles, then Hermosa Beach and attended Northrip Institute of Technology to become an aircraft mechanic, followed by a 6-week course on helicopters. Upon his return to Grand Junction with his girlfriend Stephanie and her 2-year-old son Luke, (and yes, the cat) a local helicopter operator contacted him wanting to know if he was interested in a job. That was the beginning of his new career. He spent 4 years working for Redstone helicopters and during that time married Stephanie Karly (stepson Luke Violett). They were married by helicopter, on a rock outcropping west of the Colorado National Monument. In 1985 another call came asking if he would be interested in going to work for Mountain Bell Telephone as a helicopter mechanic. Thirty-one years and three mergers later, he retired from Century Link Flight Operations, in Grand Junction. He was always proud of the fact that he worked exclusively on helicopters his entire career. 

Steve's first love with the dirt and motorcycles did not go away. He owned several ATVs and served as president of the Western Slope ATV Association for 19 years/ His greatest accomplishment there was initiating g and overseeing completion of both the Leon Creek Bridge south of Vega State Park, a 10-year battle with both state & federal governments. Steve also spent 20 years with the Mesa County Search & Rescue ATV Team.

He is survived by his younger brother Tom (Donna), his very special daughter-in-law Kimberly and 5 grand kinds. Steve's stepson Luke and wife Stephanie passed away in April & May of 2024, a few weeks apart from each other. His older brother Ron passed away previously.

No services are planned.