Stephen M. Peck

PECK, Stephen M., age 71, of Spring Valley and formerly of Centerville, passed away Thursday, August 28, 2025, at his residence. Steve graduated from Centerville High School, class of ’72. Through his work at the Kettering Medical Center, he earned an RN license through the Kettering College of Medical Arts. He worked for over 30 years in the medical field for the Kettering Health Network. Saved by Jesus, you couldn’t meet Steve without knowing he was a man of deep faith, who used every opportunity to spread the ministry of God’s word. He attended the Centerville Christian Fellowship church, often combining his love for singing with his passion for worshipping God in church. Steve’s gift with words often shone behind the scenes. On multiple trips to Namibia and Swaziland, he served as the team’s journalist of God’s work, where his faithfulness and generosity won him lasting friendships. True to his giving spirit, he often returned home with only the clothes on his back, having left behind not just his possessions but also the treasured books he carried to share with his brothers in Christ. At home, he offered the same gift with words, serving as a trusted first reader and editor for Behold Christ and Be Changed, leaving behind the imprint of his thoughtful eye and encouraging spirit on every page. Vibrant, funny, very outgoing, hardworking, and often frugal, Steve loved people and took pride in everything he did by doing it well. Highly athletic and always fond of sports, he excelled in baseball and wrestling during his high school years. Specifically, he was inducted into the Centerville High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his years playing on the varsity baseball team for the Centerville Elks. In addition to the Elks, he loved following and rooting for the Cleveland Browns, The OSU Buckeyes, and the Cincinnati Reds. Over the years, he played on several coed softball teams with his wife, which became fond memories. In addition to sports, Steve was always working on a project at home, especially when it enabled him to be outdoors. He greatly enjoyed working on his landscaping, his pool deck, and his vegetable garden, as well as a multitude of other necessary and often unnecessary projects that kept him busy. Steve will be remembered for his love of family, his endless faith in God, and his support and belief in the sanctity of life through the pro-life movement. It became a tradition for Steve and his family to travel to the Silver Birch Ranch in Wisconsin. A Christian-based camp, usually focused on kids, but for a couple of weeks each year, it became family-based, which Steve made a priority with his family. Steve will also be remembered for his pride in being one of approximately 1.4 million Christian men, including his son, who joined him, to attend the national event Stand in the Gap —a large, interdenominational gathering of men organized by Promise Keepers at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. As a pro-life advocate and supporter, Steve was very involved in the pro-life movement. Often with his son by his side, they became very involved in numerous events, marches, prayer and awareness vigils, fundraisers, and educational initiatives. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Douglas Paul and Ella Peck. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Vicky; son, Brian (Kathy) Peck; two daughters, Amy (Scott) Robinson and Emily (Nathanael) Johnson; two stepsons, Joshua and Seth Sponsel; seven grandchildren, Ethan, Ivy, Ari, Eli, Emy, Adi, and Joshua; one brother, Doug (Karen) Peck; one sister, Debbie (Gary) Clemenz; and special cousin, Anne. Private family services. Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook is serving the family. If desired, contributions may be made in Steve’s memory to the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews at https://help.ifcj.org/donate or Christ Hospital in Cincinnati at www.thechristhospital.com/about-the-network/foundation/donate-online. Condolences may be made to the family at www.connerandkoch.com.

Stephen M. Peck

August 9, 1954 - August 28, 2025