MADISON - Steven George DeLong passed away surrounded by his family on November 17, 2025. He was born on July 19, 1948, to parents Donald (Pat) and Maxine DeLong. Steve was raised in Chippewa Falls, WI, along with his older sister, Nancy. He was active in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and was also an accomplished tennis player throughout his youth and high school years.

After graduating from Chi-Hi High School in 1966, Steve earned his undergraduate degree from UW-Eau Claire, followed by a master’s in history from UW. Steve married Denise Bejin on February 26, 1972, and soon after they welcomed their daughter, Aimee. After moving to Madison in 1976, Steve held various jobs to support his family including teaching for a few years, painting and serving as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital. He later began a long and successful career with the State of Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds (ETF) retirement program. After retiring, Steve’s first big trip was to Ireland with Aimee and he later provided loving daycare for his oldest grandson, Greysen-until Greysen began walking and became a little too quick for Steve to keep up with. Steve also volunteered at a local food pantry.

Steve loved a good restaurant and travel whether that was a road trip in the T-Bird or frequent trips to New Orleans and Zihuantanejo, Mexico. He was an avid reader, once reading an entire set of encyclopedias cover to cover. He also loved a good game of cribbage or solitaire, taught his grandsons how to play dice and never missed an opportunity to beat Aimee in a game of pool. Steve had a wry sense of humor, and he could get any baby to giggle with the simple tug of his mustache. Long before the internet, Steve was “Google” and was always ready with an answer for any question with enough detail and confidence such that you could never quite tell if he was sharing fact or crafting a good story.

Steve is survived by his daughter, Aimee (Brad) Rowe; grandsons, Greysen and John Wesley; sister, Nancy (Ron Ruhnke) Sweet; siblings-in-law, Debbie Bejin, Suzette (Dave) Joles, Bruce (Julie Bergeman-Stoflet) Bejin, Sally (Ozzy) Kary and Valerie (Scott) Herrick; nieces and nephews, Dawn (Ken) Sweet, Greg (Kalee) Sweet and his daughters, Olivia and Mallory Sweet, Jennie (Michael) Lusky, Ben Bejin, Charlie (Lissa) Licht, Mollie (Kris) Nordlof, Jessica (Shane) Erickson, Adem (Kirstin) Herrick, Shanon (Katrina) Herrick, Abbie Joles, Kayla Poppe, Jacob (Leah) Kary, Noah (Alyssa) Kary and Allysa Michal. He is further survived by his cousins, Susan Snyder Caron, Michelle DeLong Barros, Patricia Snyder Diamand, Lisa DeLong, Mary DeLong Beczkalo, Julie DeLong Pfaff, Jennifer DeLong Osberg, Mary Snyder Garnett, Michael DeLong, Timothy Snyder, James DeLong, Diane Gibson Insteness and Kathy Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Denise; parents, Donald (Pat) and Maxine DeLong; sister, Mary; grandparents, George and Marie (Kalk) DeLong and William and Lila Gibson; aunts, Elizabeth (Paul) Snyder and Susan DeLong; uncles, James (Geraldine) DeLong and Dwaine Gibson; in-laws, Bruce and Gerry Bejin; and sister-in-law, Nancy Bejin.

A Celebration of Life will be held at MAIN DEPOT, 627 W. Main St., Madison, WI, from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Steve’s name to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Steven G DeLong

July 19, 1948 - November 17, 2025

Share photos of Steven