Steve John Trantham, 57, of Riverbank passed away on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013 at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born to Roy and Patricia Trantham in Inglewood, CA on May 2, 1956.

At the age of eight, his family moved to Montague, CA where he grew up on a ranch. He graduated in 1974 from Yreka High School where he enjoyed playing basketball. He waited a few years before going to college and would later graduate from California State University Stanislaus in 1987, earning his degree in business administration.

His past employment included Stanislaus County Office of Education, Hughson Unified School District and his most recent job as the Senior Director of Operations for the Manteca Unified School District where he retired.

A devoted husband and father, he always put his family first. He was a man of integrity and he will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, outgoing personality, positive attitude, his love for people and his beautiful smile. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He trained his own hunting dogs and loved to watch them work in the fields. He also liked to BBQ for family and friends.

Steve attended Big Valley Community Church. He was especially grateful to all his friends and family who were so faithful in visiting and calling during his illness, to the in home Hospice team and the staff at the Hospice House as well as the team at Stanislaus Consolidated #26 Fire Department.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Lana Trantham; and his daughter Lacey Trantham of Riverbank. He is also survived by Joe and Micki Barbara of Yreka, CA who have been like a second dad and mom to him, his mother and father-in-law, Janet and Loren Spooner, his brother-in-law, Louis LaPorte of Manteca and his sister-in-law, Laura LaPorte of Riverbank; nephews, Justin Peterson of Oakdale and Jason LaPorte of Stockton; and nieces Linzy Peterson of Riverbank and Kayla LaPorte of Stockton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Patricia Trantham, his brother, Rick Trantham and his grandparents, John Schuld and Katherine Barbara.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Deegan Funeral Chapel.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. at Big Valley Community Church at 4040 Tully Road, Modesto.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356 or The American Cancer Society.