More detail on this person: R. Stephen
Waldeck passed away at home in Woodland, May
14, 2015. He was born to Ralph and Dorothy
Cranston Waldeck in 1947 in Woodland.
While at Woodland High School, Steve played
basketball (a team captain); track and field where
he won the Jay Sehorn Award for pole-vaulting. He
was a quarterback at the first football game for
the league championship against arch-rival Davis.
Steve was amazed when he looked out at the crowd
from the field, and remembered a "sea of orange"
in the stands. Attendance for this game was
estimated at 5,500. The Wolves beat the Blue
Devils: 35 to 7.
During high school, Steve loved working at
Cranston Bros for his favorite uncle, Eldon
Cranston. They had the same personality and could
make each other "crack up" by just glancing at
each other.
Steve graduated from Chico State College, with
Bachelor degrees in Science and Art and earned an
MBA from Central Michigan University.
After college he joined the US Air Force in 1970
and received a regular commission in 1973. He flew
helicopters for 11 years and piloted: Hughes 300,
Bell H-12, Bell UH-1 and instructor-pilot on the
CH-3 (Jolly Green Giant).
Steve's last 3 years of active duty assignment was
with the 1st Helicopter Squadron of the United
States Air Force based in Washington, D.C. His
Squadron was charged with flying the Executive
Branch, members of the Cabinet and foreign
dignitaries.
After resigning his commission in 1978, at the
rank of Captain, he returned to California and
continued flying helicopters with the Air Force
Reserve, assigned to the 129th Air Rescue
Squadron out of Hayward, CA until 1981.
Steve taught Business Management courses at
Woodland Center of Yuba College, and began his
tax preparation business as an Enrolled Agent in
Woodland.
Steve was a member of Woodland Lodge #81 Free
& Accepted Masons and was elected Master of the
lodge in 1995 and served as Treasurer since 1996,
joined the Ben Ali Shriners and served as
president of the Yolo Shrine. Steve was chairman
"by acclamation" of refreshments for all parades
that the Yolo Shrine participated.
He served as Treasurer to American Legion
Woodland Post #77 and chairman of the Legion's
County Fair Parking concession at Woodland Mall.
Steve acted as spotter/announcer for the Woodland
High School football home games since 2001.
Steve drove a bright red Smart Car, and bragged
that he had to fill the gas tank regularly once or
twice a year. Steve loved JoAnn, family, his
co-workers, his work and sitting on the deck at
Shasta Retreat.
He is survived by his sweetheart of 32 years,
JoAnn Wright. His children, Stephen B. Waldeck
(Erika), Amanda Waldeck, Kelli Palmer (Frank) and
Kyndell Wright-Hobson, and grandchildren: Nicole
Waldeck and Stephen W. Waldeck, Madeline and
Bryson Palmer and Korryn Hobson.
Steve is also survived by his brothers and sister,
Gary Waldeck (Barbara); John Waldeck (Monica);
Connie Beard (Bernard Hendrix); nephews, Nicholas
Beard; Schuyler Waldeck-Myers, and Scott
Waldeck; nieces, Karen Murvin; Kathy Chudakoff;
and Mallory Waldeck; and was predeceased by his
parents, sister, Joan Waldeck, brother-in-law
Wallace (Larry) Beard, nephews Kenneth Waldeck
and Christopher Beard.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for
Children , Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point
Dr., Tampa, FL 33607 or through their website:
www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate or to
a charity of the donor's choice .
A memorial service is planned for Thursday May 28,
2015 at the Rotary Park in the Yolo County
Fairgrounds from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.KK
Published in Daily Democrat from May 20 to May
24, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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