Steven Meyer Blocher 1951-2010

Husband, father, brother, pastor, missionary, counselor, teacher, fisherman and friend. Steve Blocher went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 13.

The eldest child of Robert and Mary Jean Blocher, Steve Blocher was called to follow Jesus Christ in his early 20s, working in the fields of Northern California. He met the Forgy family of Yuba City through First Methodist Church and eventually they allowed him to meet their daughter, Janelle. They were soon married and the two of them would spend the next 34 years together sharing Christ’s love with others, raising three children, four dogs, two cockatiels and going wherever in the world they were called to serve the Lord.

Steve Blocher

Steve’s ministry began in youth groups in Yuba City. But a calling in missions and outreach would lead him and Janelle from Alaska (First Presbyterian, Anchorage) down to his family’s base in California’s Central Valley (First Presbyterian, Bakersfield), on to positions in Cairo, Egypt (Heliopolis Community Church) and Mussoorie, India (Woodstock Christian International School) before bringing them to Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church. A lifelong student, Steve studied at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Selly Oak Colleges in the UK, the American University of Cairo and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena (M.Div. and D.Min.).

Steve loved the outdoors, he loved to travel and he loved to share the wonder of God’s creation with others. Whether hiking the Tahoe basin, horseback riding around the Great Pyramids in Giza or piling his family into an Ambassador taxi for a journey across India, Steve knew wonder was best shared with others. The Blocher family home was a regular stop on many travelers’ and missionaries’ journeys wherever it was in the world. The Blochers’ home was often filled with the smell of Steve’s chicken on the barbecue, the sound of his beautiful voice singing along to his amazing guitar playing and the love of Jesus that he would share with any who would listen.

Steve is survived by his wife, Janelle of South Lake Tahoe; daughter Kristin of Sacramento; sons Ryan and Eric of Qingdao, China; and Eric’s wife, Song. He is also survived by his sisters, Janice Stovall and her husband John, Patricia Orth and her husband Bob, Nancy Greenman and her husband Greg, Janelle’s sisters Huntyce Moore, Jeanine and her husband Walter White, Alisan and her husband Brent Hastey, many nieces and nephews and many brothers and sisters in Jesus. He is predeceased by his parents and many others glad this good and faithful servant is home with them today in Heaven.

— Provided by the Blocher family

Publisher’s note: Steve Blocher was minister of the South Lake Tahoe church since 1996. Services are slated for Sunday at 11:30am at the Presbyterian Church in South Lake Tahoe.