Stephen “Steve” L. Dittbenner

Stephen L. Dittbenner, 66, of Clearwater, FL, passed away at the Bay Pines VA Hospital and crossed over into heaven in the arms of his loving family on September 27, 2016. He was born in Richmond, VA, and grew up in California and Nebraska; but, spent most of his life in Kansas City, MO. He moved to Florida in 2006.

Steve was raised much of his growing up time by his “Aunt Mary”, not a blood relative, that took him when his mother was ill. He went to live with her at 5 years old and continued to live with her off and on thru High School, with his 6 year younger sister, Michelle. He was always the big brother that took care of her. She had a major influence on their life. She taught them her morals, work ethics and kind nature.

Steve was a “wild child” that loved doing experiments with his chemistry set, riding his bike and having lots of fun with his lifelong close friends. He was always on the honor role at school.

He served his country in the United States Air Force in the early 1970’s. He joined right after high school and served most of his time at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho in Graphics. That was where he was exposed to chemicals causing him to get Parkinson’s. He made lifelong friends there and married Erlynn “Lynn” Eller in 1971. They were married for 46 years and he was a wonderful fun, supportive, kind and loving husband.

Steve was a Falconer. During his time in Idaho, he spent months studying to get his license and learning from his friend Gary Maxwell, who had been a Falconer for many years. They together found a nest of endangered Ferruginous Rough Leg Hawk chicks that were dying because they had worms in their ears. When the Fish and Game Department were not able to get to them in time to save them, Steve and Gary got medicine from the vet and treated them so they would survive.  Steve took the one that didn’t look like it would make it and nursed it back to health and then raised and trained it. It was just a fuzzy little ball. He made all his own equipment and learned carpentry so he could build and provide the right type of shelter. He was not allowed to take his Hawk outside of Idaho so had to give it to another Falconer before moving back to Kansas City after getting out of the Air Force.

Although he was unable to continue as a Falconer, it was in his heart and a passion. Patrick Bradley, who runs the Avian Veterans Alliance  (AVA”) at The Narrows Education Center in George McGough Nature Park in Largo and works with the VA to help provide therapy for soldiers with PTSD, invited him into the program. This is a quote from a news article written about Steve and  his experience on his first visit to the park. “As Shay, a red-shouldered hawk, was perched atop Steve Dittbenner’s hand on a recent Tuesday at McGough Nature Park, patrons walking by quickly pulled out their cameras to capture a photo of something they don’t see very often. But when Lynn Dittbenner watches as the raptor’s eyes are affixed on her husband, she sees something different. She sees hope. About a year ago, Steve, who is wheelchair-bound and suffers from Parkinson’s disease and a mild form of dementia, felt like he had nothing to live for. The Palms of Largo resident had entered hospice and had little to look forward to in life. ‘He had totally given up,’ Lynn said. So, when she heard about the Avian Veteran Alliance program at the park, she figured it would be worth a try for Steve, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran who was also a falconer in the 1970’s. The program uses wounded birds of prey that veterans identify and emphasize with as a form of therapy by simply allowing them to take the raptors for a walk. When Patrick Bradley, the raptor director at the park, placed Dakota, a red-tailed hawk, on Steve’s hand, it didn’t take long for the two to make a connection. “He hadn’t even been talking and then all of sudden, he just started talking in full sentences and loud enough so that Patrick could hear him,” Lynn said.
He was able to work with hawks for the last few years once a week and was the highlight of his life.”

After moving back to Kansas City, Steve went back to college and began free-lancing by doing commercial art projects for studios around the Kansas City area. He did this while working full-time, making architectural models, for Howard Tamen and Burgendoff. Later he was an artist at Western Auto in their advertising department.

His free-lancing became a full-time job so he started his own company, Commercial Art Service, He was joined by his wife and they bought their first typesetter by putting up their house and everything they owned up for the loan. Later they provided the first desk top publishing services in Kansas and became a beta tester for Quark Xpress, being number 25. Together they did newspaper ads and brochures for almost every company in that area, winning many awards for his work. Some of the logos he designed are still in use by major companies. He started with small companies, that with his help, which are now very large companies today. He never missed a deadline even if it took all night and many people he worked with said he was the only artist they had ever worked with that was always consistent with quality work on time. He was a talented artist and fine commercial artist who won many awards. He owned the Commercial Arts Service for thirty-five years. He worked hard and played hard.

He worked as a graphic designer at H.U.D. (Housing and Urban Development) for 4 years in Washington, DC winning many accolades for his work prior to retiring in 2006 and moving to Clearwater, FL.

Steve loved any new technology, gadget, computer (MAC from beginning to end) and software. He always was able to teach himself about anything by just reading the manuals and books they provided. Then he taught others.

He loved to bicycle starting with his wife and eventually both of his children. He took his daughter on MS150 bike runs for charity for 3 years running. It was in the summer, 150 mile bike ride, for Muscular Dystrophy. He was one of the first to have a Recumbent Bike going all the way to Hays, Ks to test one out at the manufacturer.

He loved his kids and really enjoyed doing things with them taking them on trips, going to their games, and working with them on their art projects, and encouraging and supporting their dreams. He was always the fun dad, and had no problem providing a home for some of his wife’s nieces and nephews when they were going thru troubled times or “adopting” children thru charity funding networks. Always doing the Angel Tree, he had a soft spot for children in need.

He had a terrific sense of humor and liked to play jokes on his wife and kids. April Fools’ Day was always “interesting”. Steve was honest and trustworthy and not only believed in Christ, but lived a Christian life. He did not talk much about it; but, studied the Bible at different times. He loved dogs and always had them. He allowed his kids to have hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and doves.

He was a kid at heart who loved cartoons and toys. He always knew exactly what he wanted for Christmas and most of the time talked his wife into letting him open his presents early just to make sure he got what he wanted. He loved getting toys for the kids, some so he could “help” them play.

He liked the best quality and would rather have one good expensive personal item, rather than lots of less expensive items. He collected toys, artistic pipes and pens.

He loved to play tennis and tried to his family. Steve also loved cars and motorcycles. He had the first model of Opel GT in 1971, the first model Mazda RX7 with the rotary engine, and the first Toyota Van, and a 300ZX. He would hand dust his vehicles on the outside and wash them in the rain. He had motorcycles several models at several times. He was stubborn and opinionated and never backed down from an argument which he passed on to his daughter. Both would go to great lengths to prove their point. Betting on the outcome cost him to dearly at times; but, he rarely lost because he was extremely intelligent. He passed kind heart, his intelligence and his artistic talent on to his kids, letting them try whatever they wanted and supporting their ideas. He was so proud of everything they did.

Steve loved the original James Bond, Humphrey Bogart and Star Wars movies, The Simpsons and Sponge Bob Cartoons. While he didn’t like camping, he loved car shows. So he took his family to the campground and went back to go to the car shows and ride his motorcycle with his friends. His friends were true lifelong friends and he was willing to do anything for them.

His brother, Tim, contacted his sister and they all met for the first time when they were in their 50’s. There was an immediate loving connection that lasted throughout the rest of his life.

He was preceded in death by mother, Gloria Church. He is survived by his wife, Lynn; son, Neil Dittbenner (Anna); daughter, Jessica Dow (Tom); brother, Tim Bunce; sister, Michelle Aguilar; one grandchild and one grandchild on the way.

A memorial service, with Military Honors, will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at the Bay Pines National Cemetery. The cemetery is located at 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33708.

Steve will be interred in Kansas City, MO, and the service time and date will be posted here when it is scheduled.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Friends of Largo Nature Parks (a 501c-3 corporation) , 11901 146^th Ave North, largo, FL 33774.  In the memo line list AVA (Avian Veterans Alliance). Thank you.

My Eulogy To My Big Brother

By Michelle Aguilar

What can I say about my big brother?

Well for starters I can say, my brother may have meant something to each and every one of you; but, personally, he was my guardian angel.  Steve would always stand up for me and he would always keep me safe from an early age no matter what.

Steve loved to put together model air planes and hang them from the back porch. He cherished his race car track, which by the way, I was forbidden to touch.

And let’s not forget the alligator that he brought home and hid in the washing machine and did not tell my mom about until it bit her while she was doing the laundry.

Oh, and did I mention how he used to sneak out of his room late at night with his best friend Brian to ride their bikes to the penny arcade, all the way downtown which had to by 15 to 20 miles away from home.

I have a vivid memory of Steve he was about 13 or 14. On our Aunt Mary’s farm, he liked playing tricks on me by picking cherries off the cherry tree and telling me here’s a good one, of course it was awful and sour.  He would then head off on foot with his BB gun to shot whatever was moving.  Those were some of the best time of our lives.

As his little sister, I always looked up to him; Steve was a wonderful big brother. He was always there to make sure I was well taken care of, and to protect me from the dangers of the world.

I will miss Steve’s dry wit sense of humor, and how much he loved me and how proud of me he was.  That meant the world to me to know he was proud and got to see what I had become.

I am truly sadden by his loss and will forever hold him in my heart as he will always be my big brother.

Let’s just be thankful for all the special moments that Steve has left us.  And with that, I hope Steve will continue to live on within our hearts and minds.

Steve, you might be gone; but, you will never be forgotten.  Go now Steve, as you are forever free to soar with Chivas, as it should be.

I love you always and forever your little sister Michelle.

Eulogy To My Brother Steve

By Tim Bunce

In 1954, I was adopted in California.  My adoptive parents always told me I had a biological brother that was 3 1/2 years older than me.  Being an only child, I always dreamed of finding him.  I finally was able to find Steven and my sister Michelle in 2004.

After many phone calls, we all agreed to have a family reunion at my sister’s home in Kansas City MO. Although 52 years had passed, it was like we had never been apart. Steve and I looked similar, we had the same sense of humor, we loved motorcycles, sports and nature, but most of all we loved our families.

Over the next 11 years, we were able get together almost every year at his home in Florida. We had great times and lots of laughs. Over the last few years, as his Parkinson’s progressed and verbal communication diminished, I know that each of us still grew stronger as brothers and just seeing each other put huge smiles on our faces.  I would hold his hand and wish this never happened to him so we could have grown old together.  But it was not be.

A day before he passed we were able to connect over Facetime and although he could not speak we looked into each others eyes.  As I told him I loved him his eyes said to me I Love you too my brother.  He added so much to my life.  Although we lost 52 years together I had a big brother that loved me and I will never forget the time we had together.

The day after Steve passed, my wife Linda and I were on our back patio in Reno, we looked up on our fence and there was a Coopers Hawk staring back at us.  Linda said, “My God it’s Steve”.  I told him to Fly like the wind for all of eternity, he nodded as to say all is good, and then he flew away.

Steve, may you soar with the Angels, you will forever be in my heart.