Steve P. Razo 1940-2025

Steve was born May 18, 1940, in Youngstown, a son of Eli and Helen Wac Razo. He graduated from Springfield Local in 1958 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Germany during the Cold War with the 7th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He was proud of his military service and his unit had a long history known as the “Garyowen” regiment.

Steve was a bricklayer for many years and owned and operated a masonry construction company. After his time as a bricklayer, he worked as a mill superintendent for IMS for over 15 years, working all over the country, including Texas and Minnesota.

Steve grew up working on a farm and continued into adulthood. He was proud to pass on all he knew about farming to his son, Eli. He raised poultry and had pigeons for several years. He enjoyed golfing in his earlier days and was a lifetime hunter, loving the peace and quiet of the woods for hours on end.

Steve was an avid gardener. He even planted his last crop of giant garlic this year to be harvested next spring. His most infamous crop was his giant pumpkins. He grew the heaviest field pumpkin ever in the state of Ohio in 2023. The record still stands. He also received awards for his squash and watermelons through the years.

Steve was very involved in his community. He assisted with Little League baseball. He was a 4-H advisor for 10 years and supported the 4-H livestock sale. He was a member of the New Middletown Sportsman’s Club, Johnson Club and SNPJ. He was a lifetime member of both the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers and the Bessemer Croatian Club.

He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Church in New Middletown.

Steve leaves his wife, the former Eleanor P. Sutak, whom he married Aug. 8, 1964; his son, Eli J. (Carol) Razo of Salem; his daughter, Stephanie Razo of Poland; his sister, Kathy D’Amico of Poland; five grandchildren, Eric Razo, Anna Gorrell, Maria Radcliff, Emily Razo and Alex Bair; and two great-grandchildren, Noah and Griffin.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Razo; and his sister, Barbara Hallwood.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 10143 Main St., New Middletown, OH 44442.

Friends may call 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Clemente Funeral Home, 10170 Main St., New Middletown, OH 44442. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

The family requests that material tributes in Steve’s name be made to New Springfield Rescue Squad, 3475 E. South Range Road, New Springfield, OH, 44443; or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which delivers mortgage-free homes to 25 Gold Star Families. Donations can be made at T2T.org.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent at www.ClementeFuneralHomes.com.

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