Steven Wayne Roach, aged 67, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly on May 30th, 2024. Steve was born October 30th, 1956 in Phoenix, Arizona, to Wayne and Maurine Roach.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jan, and children, Natalie Wright (Matt), Audrey Tolman (Marcus), Kevin Roach (Amber), Connie Johnson (David), and Eric Roach (Shannon), and 18 grandchildren. Steven is also survived by his dear mother, Maurine Roach, and his sisters, Teri Husted and Brenda Witt. He is preceded in death by his brother, Douglas Roach. Steve’s father, Wayne Roach, passed away five short days after Steve died. His family is comforted in knowing that Steve was there to receive him.
Steve was a curious and smart little boy and always had a mind for engineering. He would often tell stories of the traps, trip lines, pranks, and inventions that he created with his younger brother Douglas. Steve’s children and grandchildren were especially amused by the story of how, as a teenager, Steve was accidentally (and thankfully, not too seriously) electrocuted while taking apart a washing machine, while his brother Douglas was too busy laughing at Steve to help him.
With his memorable deep bass singing voice, Steve was very involved with music and choir at Catalina High School in Tucson, Arizona. He also served on the student council and was elected as the student body president his senior year. He was well liked by many classmates who remember him fondly to this day.
Steve was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life. He served for two years as a representative of our Savior as a missionary in Hong Kong and then attended and graduated from Brigham Young University. He served in many callings, most often as ward choir director. At the time of his death, Elder Roach was assigned to serve in the Arizona Gilbert Mission with his sweet eternal companion, Jan.
He was “true blue, through and through,” and a loyal fan of the BYU football team. He enjoyed watching (or grimacing through) the games with family and friends, and he took pleasure in waking up his teenaged children for early-morning seminary by shaking their beds and singing the Cougar Fight Song. “Rise and shout!”
Steve met Jan Myers in the summer of 1978, and five days after they first met, they got engaged. On December 28th, 1978, Steve and Jan were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple for time and all eternity. Together they raised five children. Steve, better known these days as “Papa” or “Grandpa,” was a caring and devoted grandparent who always made time to attend sporting events, concerts, and other special occasions for his grandchildren, who will all miss him dearly.
After his graduation from BYU, Steve worked for IBM for nearly two decades, and then spent the rest of his career at Microsoft until he retired in the summer of 2023. Many of his colleagues looked up to him as a mentor and friend.
Music was an integral part of Steve’s life and faith. He sang in or directed scores of choirs throughout his life and made many friends through a shared love of music. He was blessed to be born into a musical family and helped foster a love of music in his children. It was one of the most powerful ways that he felt the Spirit of God.
Steve was always ready and willing to help his family in any way. He has been a great support to his parents these last several years and helped his children without judgment with whatever they needed. His dad said that Steve “was the kingpin of the whole family.”
Steve had a powerful and personal testimony of Jesus Christ and of the saving power of His Atonement. He wasn’t afraid to let his emotions show when he would share that testimony with others.
His family will miss him terribly, but is comforted knowing that “because of Him, there is no such thing as the end.”
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, June 7th, 2024, at the Boulder Creek stake center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 3025 South Hawes Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212.
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
