Steven Michael Vanker, age 71, of West Bloomfield, entered eternity on Thursday, December 7, 2023, surrounded by his family.
Steve was born on January 5, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan, to loving parents Richard and Dorothy and grew up in northern Detroit with his four siblings, Richard, David, Judy and Sandy. He attended Catholic schools through eighth grade where he discovered his love for football. In ninth grade, Steve and his family moved to Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he was immediately chosen as team captain at Bloomfield Hills Middle School and was introduced to several life-long friends. Throughout his young life, he was known as a “good boy”, compliant and cooperative, and proved himself a diligent worker delivering newspapers, stocking shelves, and even hitchhiking to his after-school caddying job.
In 1968, Steve’s father and mother opened Royal Rental Company, an equipment rental store, in Waterford, Michigan. He worked there after school, on weekends, and throughout the summers sweeping floors and cleaning equipment. In 1970, Steve graduated from Andover High School where he also excelled in football earning multiple awards including “most tackles in a game” during his freshman year; All-County, All-Area and All-League during his junior year; and football team captain, “most tackles in a year”, Honorable Mention All-State, and Tenth-in-State Class A during his senior year. Most notably, however, through the prayers and ministry of Youth for Christ: Voice of Christian Youth, Steve recognized his sinful heart his senior year and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ for salvation. This decision set the course for the rest of his life.
While in college at Michigan State University, Steve joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and, due to his trustworthiness, was elected president his sophomore year only to have the house destroyed by an arson fire his first week of office. He gained many business skills navigating reconstruction of the house, managing house finances, and finding temporary housing for fraternity members. The following year, Steve met his sister-in-law’s cousin, the sunny-dispositioned Julie Matthews, and had the privilege of leading her to a saving faith in Christ. Soon after, as Julie was moving to Colorado, the two fell in love. He drove out that winter to propose to his “best friend” and “the love of [his] life” in the mountains. They married five weeks later, on March 16, 1974, in Birmingham, Michigan, and finished out his senior year in married housing. Steve graduated from MSU in 1974 with a B.A. in Business: Personnel Administration.
Following graduation, the newlyweds moved back to Southeast Michigan, and Steve started working at Royal Rental full-time, eventually stepping into the role of general manager. After celebrating the joyous births of three children, Steve purchased the business from his father and reopened the store as Midwest Rental Center, later renamed Midwest Tool & Equipment Center (MTEC). Through many years of advancement and expansion, MTEC earned multiple “Best Facility Design” and “Best Customer Service” awards from The American Rental Association (ARA). However, Steve saw his store as more than a business but as an opportunity to serve as he hired, mentored, and supported many--from ex-convicts to young businessmen, from missionary kids on home assignment to his own teenage children. Business thrived until the economic recession of 2008. Steve sold the business to Chet’s Rent-All in 2013 and, as vice president, continued to manage his team along with seven other locations for several years. The last three years of his life, he worked as customer service manager and as a valued asset to Mosher & Associates.
As a devoted Christian, husband, and father, Steve kept his store closed on Sundays so as to serve faithfully in the local church. The family first attended Grace Evangelical Church where he served as deacon, treasurer and, eventually, elder. As the kids grew older, the family joined Highland Park Baptist Church. There, too, he was valued for his faithfulness and wisdom, and he served on the deacon, trustee, elder, and Southfield Christian School boards collectively for over 21 years. Steve loved behind-the-scenes work such as serving alongside his wife in the two- and three-year-old Sunday schools, helping with both junior and senior high missions trips, and mentoring young men, husbands, fathers, and businessmen. In addition, he and Julie maintained a “revolving door” at their home and pool for neighbors, friends, and students from Southfield Christian School where all three children and several grandchildren attended. In his retirement years, he and Julie settled at Berean Baptist Church where they joined multiple Bible studies and small groups and served together as greeters. He treasured and maintained the relationships built in Christ throughout his entire adult life.
Steve will be remembered by many as a humble, generous man and a devoted Christ-follower; a doting husband, father, and grandfather; an honest businessman; and a faithful friend. He was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving is Steve’s beloved wife of 49 years, Julia Matthews Vanker; 3 children, Lindsay (Jonathan) Wolfe, Donnell (Kristi) Vanker, and Emily (Chris) DewBerry; and twelve grandchildren, Thomas, Sarah and Matthew Abazi; Ty, Rustin, Hudson, and Bailey Vanker; Caleb, Katelyn, and Reagan Emrick; Xavier and Genevieve DewBerry (due January 2024).
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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