“Just one more…” Steve would coax his family and friends to share one more beer with him, extend the visit, relax, and talk. He never wanted the party to end and loved nothing more than gathering around a fire, usually while cooking some delicious meat.

Steve left us for heaven in the early hours of Monday, March 30th, at IU Hospital. He’d experienced chest pain and a procedure was planned for the next morning; but then his loving heart stopped beating. We are deeply grateful to the IU staff who worked tirelessly trying to resuscitate him.

A lot of people—and one very spoiled chihuahua—will miss him terribly. Steve was greeted in heaven by his father and mother, Charles and Teresa Minnicus (Bossung); his brothers Mike, Tom, and infant Joey Minnicus; and a very special nephew, Alan Minnicus. Waiting here until we can meet again are his wife, Tracey Minnicus, and her children Elizabeth Claxton (Matt), Jared Slaven, Molly Kate Slaven, and Gracie Slaven-Gosnell (Aaron). Steve is also survived by his sister Ann Minnicus and brothers Gordy Minnicus (Kim), Jerry Minnicus (Peg), and Tim Minnicus (Linda), along with many beloved nieces and nephews and bonus grandchildren.

Green tractors—especially his beloved John Deere 4020—were among Steve’s favorites. He could make or repair anything, grew fabulous tomatoes, and was a collector of old cooking gadgets and cast-iron cookware. Combining his loves of fire, food, and cast-iron, Steve reveled in as big a crowd as possible.  He loved a soup party, and famously used a boat oar he had seasoned and reserved just for churning giant vats of vegetable or “chili soup.”

Steve graduated from Delphi High School as part of the class of 1975 and enjoyed a 50^th reunion last summer.  He farmed with Charlie Rice and built bridges for a time before moving on to Kelly Construction, located out of the Tate & Lyle North plant, where he worked until retirement. Retirement gave him the chance to fulfill a dream of owning a mini excavator, which he used to work in his yard and help his family and neighbors. He held to appropriate break and dinner times even in retirement, followed by daily “Gunsmoke” at 1:00 PM EST.

His other loves included very early morning coffee, onions on everything, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, homemade sauerkraut eaten standing in front of the refrigerator, and cans of pickled beets.   Don Williams on the CD player, cruising Lake Freeman on his pontoon boat and the “putt-putt” sound of antique 2-cycle tractors brought a smile to Steve’s face.

We are better having known him and his sincere, practical and loving way of life.  The pain of missing him is intense, but Steve would want us to think about the positive and keep living on—which is exactly what we will do.

Ceremonies to celebrate Steve are Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard, Lafayette, Indiana 47909.  Visitation is Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.