Stephen “Steve” J. Harbaugh, age 74, of Hartland, Wisconsin, passed away on June 17, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and his faithful cat, Lucy. True to form, Steve kept his trademark sense of humor and wit with him until the very end, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and a life fully lived.

Steve was born on September 9, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Steve and Eileen Harbaugh. He grew up surrounded by a large family and attended the prestigious St. Louis University High School. After high school, Steve headed to St. Benedict's College in Kansas, where he was a member of the college soccer team. After three years at St. Benedict's, he completed his final year of college at the University of Missouri.

Following college, Steve worked various jobs in St. Louis and spent time living and working in Bloomington, Indiana. During this period of his life, Steve took a four-month odyssey through Europe with his friend Michael, a trip he would later describe as his favorite of his life. Upon returning from Europe, he accepted a position with a St. Louis hotel that eventually led to a transfer to the Milwaukee Marriott, where he met his future wife, Glenda.

Together, Steve and Glenda built a life and home in Hartland, Wisconsin, where they raised their children, Stephanie and Ted, and later welcomed their grandson, Devon. Steve spent much of his career in sales, traveling throughout the United States, something he truly enjoyed.

Steve was happiest on the golf course and took many trips to play golf and participate in tournaments with friends. In retirement, he discovered pickleball and loved every minute of it. As an avid reader, Steve could often be found with a library book in his car or an audiobook playing while he drove. He loved the library so much that he anonymously had lunch delivered to his favorite librarians at the Hartland Library each year.

Steve was incredibly intelligent and enjoyed challenging himself with daily crossword puzzles. He loved to cook and was delighted in hosting themed parties centered around food. His favorite meal of the year was Thanksgiving, where he always made his Aunt Didi's raisin bread.

Steve also loved working in his yard and eventually transformed the family inground pool into a beautiful pond that became one of his favorite projects. Music was a constant presence in his life, and he could often be found working in the backyard with a speaker nearby. His love of music extended to Broadway musicals, and he and Glenda attended many performances together throughout their marriage. It was one of their favorite things to do as a couple.

The family spent many holidays and vacations dividing their time between St. Louis and Ely, Minnesota. Steve loved fishing and boating in Ely, though he often suspected the fish were never biting when he was there.

Steve was an avid sports fan and spent years coaching his children in youth baseball, soccer, and basketball. His favorite team was the Green Bay Packers, and he spent every Sunday watching them play—sometimes on a recording, so you had better not call and spoil the result. One of his favorite sports memories was attending the 1996 NFC Championship Game and watching the Packers defeat the Carolina Panthers to advance to the Super Bowl.

In retirement, Steve volunteered with Ronald McDonald House, transporting patients between the House and the hospital. He loved being able to give back to an organization that meant so much to so many families.

Steve's greatest accomplishment and lasting legacy was the love he gave as a father and grandfather. He dedicated his life to supporting and caring for his family whenever he was called upon. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on through the family he built and loved so dearly.

Steve is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Glenda; his cherished brother, Mark Harbaugh; his children, Ted Harbaugh and Stephanie Harbaugh (Nina); and his grandson, Devon Harbaugh. He was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his granddaughter, Greta, and will watch over her as her guardian angel. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Kathy Fitzgerald, Pat Coppinger, and Dan Harbaugh. Steve was also a beloved uncle, in-law, and friend to many.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Steve's honor to Breaking the Chains Church.

A celebration of life is being planned for early September. Additional details will be announced at a later date.