Stephen Vincent Kelleher

Stephen Vincent Kelleher, 53, finally became himself again as he walked through the heavenly doors on Thursday, November 25^th 2021, at his sisters home in Texas. After a 2 year battle with Pancreatic Cancer, Stephen, (Steve, StinkMan and RickSteve,) as he had been known to friends and family, lost.

He is survived by his father, Patrick Kelleher of Fulshear, Texas, formerly Marion, Ohio, sister Monica Kelleher Krpec (Mark Krpec), of Fulshear, Texas, their three daughters Marquie Krpec Epperly (Ben Epperly), Mickenzi Krpec and Makayla Krpec, brother Tim Kelleher (Jody), of Ostrander, Ohio, their two sons Austin Kelleher and Logan Kelleher, and daughter Jordan Kelleher, brother Philip Kelleher (also married to work), of Houston, Texas, and sister Beth Kelleher Larkin, of Marion, Ohio, her two sons Nicholas Larkin and Cole Larkin (Kaylee) and their son Jaxyn, a few aunts, uncles and lots of cousins.     He is preceded in death by his mom; Regina (Wolf) Kelleher, grandparents Ray Kelleher, Ruth Kelleher (Sam Wilson), Joseph and Helen Wolf.

He was born in Marion, Ohio on August 24^th 1968, the fourth of 5 children to Patrick and the late Regina (Wolf) Kelleher. He began a love for sports at an early age and continued that love up until his final days. He played any and all sports he could talk his mom and dad into letting him play. We think it was to get out of mowing yards with his brothers in their little lawn business they started. He was a truly gifted athlete. He served as an altar boy with his two brothers at St. Mary’s Church and was involved in Boy Scouts. Stephen was a 1986 graduate of Marion Catholic High School in Marion, Ohio and studied Electronics at Tri-Rivers Vocational School in Marion. After high school he attended Marion Technical College and worked at Bonanza and Big Bear. His mom decided it was best for Stephen to move to Texas to be with his sister, Monica. He went to visit her and her husband, and ended up moving there in 1991. He worked at HEB in El Campo, Texas until moving to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1993. There, he began working at Adrian’s Grocery and Target. Stephen then pursued a career at Baker Hughes in 1996 as an Equipment Operator in the skid department. He then went on to become the Dock Warehouseman. Baker Hughes always treated Stephen like family and, had always been there for him. There are no words that can express how supportive the guys at Baker Hughes had been. Stephen loved his job so much that he did not take the time to marry. Some would say he was even married to his job after being a part of Baker Hughes for 25 years. During his time with the company, he played on a softball team with the other employees. This continued his love and passion for sports.

Stephen has a sports card collection that would blow your mind. He would stop on the way home from his chemo treatments and pick up more.  Collecting sports cards was his passion. We soon ran out of room in his bedroom to store the cards and had to get a storage unit. It was not uncommon to get home from work and see him at the dining room table searching for a valuable card! The amount of knowledge he had of sports was unbelievable. We could ask him a question about anything from past to present and he would give us the answer in full detail. He truly had a love for sports and enjoyed watching his nieces compete in their sport activities when he came into town, especially Mickenzi when she went to University of Texas to play softball. He loved his Ohio State Buckeyes, and continued to cheer on the Browns and Bengals which sometimes led to playful teasing from his friends. It did not take him long to jump on the Cajun ship and cheer on the New Orleans Saints, LSU Tigers and the Ragin’ Cajuns of ULL.

Stephen had been living with his sister and her family while undergoing chemo since being diagnosed in 2020. We knew he had gained several friends that considered him family, but we soon found out the extent of love and support that poured out from his Louisiana family. Stephen had many visitors throughout his journey, filling our hearts with joy. His phone was constantly buzzing, so much that at one point Mark told him to silence it, which he didn’t. Stephen sure loved to get under his skin and Mark sure loved to give him a hard time about anything and everything. Although their bickering, Stephen thought of Mark not just as a brother in law, but as another brother.

Although the given circumstance, the timing was ideal for Stephen. He enjoyed watching football, setting his Fantasy Football lineups, along with celebrating his favorite holiday, Christmas in his final months. He would not miss out on an opportunity to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie. He truly loved these things and being surrounded by the chaos and love of his family. Family meant the world to him, with football not far behind.

A rosary, mass and celebration of life will be held at Guardian Angel Catholic Church.

5610 Demel St. Wallis, TX 77485

Tuesday, November 30^th at 2 pm.

We will be have another service at a later date in Marion, Ohio for his final resting.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to E.P. Compean Funeral Directors, “Our Family Serving Your Family”, 1223 Sixth St., Rosenberg, TX. 77471, 281-238-4443.