The morning of Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2024, Steven Jon Bless passed away peacefully in his sleep during the calm quiet of sunrise in Wellesley, Massachusetts. His children were all able to say their goodbyes over the weekend and held him in their prayers until he departed for his next adventure.
Steve was born on November 11, 1948 in Clear Lake, Iowa, the oldest child to Aaron and Hazel Bless. He graduated from Clear Lake High School, class of 1967, and Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, class of 1971. Steve was raised to be kind and caring to all. He was a musician, creator, conscientious objector, educator, lover of basketball and tennis, and outdoor adventurer.
After college Steve migrated west with the dream of one day living in a small town where he could play guitar and raise a family. His dream came true when he met Elizabeth (Liz) Shattuck in Moscow, Idaho, and they were married in 1975 and settled in Bristol, Vermont where they had 4 children, Graham, Eliot, Meredith, and Forrest. 
Steve loved his family, they truly were the light of his life. As the family grew through the 1980s, Steve built a home addition, a new garage, and created a nearly full size basketball court that had daily pickup games after school, all ages were welcome. When one of his kids felt lonely, he would say, “what adventure should we go on today?” Some favorite family adventures included hiking Deerleap, Mt. Abraham, and Camels Hump along with ice skating and midnight snowshoeing in the winter. Each summer invited guitar music on the porch, endless basketball games, tennis matches, and camping trips in Maine.
A career in education at Monkton Elementary School is where many know Steve as Mr. Bless, where he taught 6th grade math and science, and later after gaining a Certificate of Instruction in Library Science through the University of Vermont, he worked as the school librarian. He later was certified as a Montessori teacher and continued teaching in Tucson, Arizona for 10 years, then on to Kalispell, Montana, and retired after a final year of teaching in New Hampshire in 2017.
Steve never lost that desire to live out west with the wide open spaces, rocky peaks, salmon run rivers, and the beautiful coastal bays. By 2000 Steve and Liz were empty nesters and although they had a strong bond, they decided friendship was best, and both parted ways to explore their own adventure in the new century. Steve had been volunteering with Keeping Track since the 1990s tracking panthers, bobcats, and catamounts in Vermont and Arizona, so he continued to pursue this passion with a cross country move to Tucson, Arizona.
For the next 20 years Steve would mingle education and adventure by teaching during the school year and volunteering with Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks as the Discovery Cabin education park ranger or campground host. When he had vacation time he kept his family connected by visiting his kids and grandkids from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, to Kansas, California, Alaska, and finally Washington State.
In 2019 when Steve retired from all his teaching and travels, he settled down in Bellingham, Washington with his daughter Meredith and her family. He gardened and worked at a local golf course that had the best view of Mt. Shukson. This move was important for care he would need as he progressed through the mid stages of dementia. These retirement years were peaceful for Steve as he spoke to his sons and grandkids on a regular basis while playing guitar, gardening, watching basketball, or discussing spirituality. The time he had with his daughter had a beautiful and eternal impact that she holds dear to her heart as each day passes.
Steve’s family asks that in lieu of a formal memorial service that those who wish to remember him, do so by visiting their favorite local, State, or National Park with friends and family to enjoy the natural beauty.
Steve is survived by his sister Rita Van Sickle (husband Gene) of Clive, IA and ex-wife Elizabeth Shattuck of Kansas City, MO. He is also survived by his beloved children and their families: Graham (wife Tara and children Tyler and Brooke) of Londonderry, NH, Eliot (wife Nicole and children Charlotte and Mason) of Grafton, MA, Meredith (husband Hayden and stepson Merritt) of Bellingham, WA, and Forrest (wife Johanna and children Leonelle and Judah) of Saratoga, CA. Along with many friends and extended family including niece Maria (Bode) Konen (husband Cade and child Ava and step children Matthew and Morgan), nephews William (Scott) Bode (wife Corinne) and Nathaniel Shattuck. Extended family includes Richard and Christine Detrick, Bill and Ann Shattuck, John Shattuck, and Florence Shattuck. Close friends who were dear to his heart include Phil and Bonnie Gridley and numerous friends and families close to his children.
A quote from one of Steve’s favorite hymns:
“I walk with Love along the way,
And O, it is a holy day;
No more I suffer cruel fear,
I feel God's presence with me here;
The joy that none can take away
Is mine; I walk with Love today.”
Thank you all for your love and support.