Carl Steven Ekstrom, 62, of Northbrook, Illinois, was tragically taken from us on May 30, 2023, in Thurston County, Washington. He was born January 6, 1961, to Carl and Rhonda (Van Meenen) Ekstrom in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in Winnetka and then Northbrook, Illinois, Steve would eventually call many parts of the Chicagoland area home, including Round Lake, Palatine, Carpentersville, Hanover Park, Bolingbrook, McHenry and Schaumburg, before moving to Guntersville, Alabama, to help care for his ailing father. He is survived by his sister, Mary (Robert); his sons, Brett (Karli) and Shane (Tiffany); grandchildren, Alyssa (Ryan), Amber, Adam, Meadow, Nathan, Cyan, Joey, and Reagan; nieces, Karyn (Brian) and Dana; great-niece, Danielle; and great-nephew, Jacob. He is also survived by his longtime best friend, Heather Bateman, and her children, Emily and Ian, who he cared for as his own. Steve had his own trucking business and spent the last 30 years traveling to virtually every state in the nation multiple times. He had recently delivered a boat to San Juan Island, Washington, and sent pictures to family members to show how beautiful the area was. Steve was a selfless man, providing for others even if it left him without enough for himself. He worked as many as three jobs at once and, as a truck driver, would routinely be on the road during major holidays to ensure his family would never go without. He was the hardest working man a son could know. Steve was a “car guy,” always turning wrenches, and had a love for Ford Mustangs, skills and a passion that he passed onto both his son, Shane, and grandson, Adam. He loved fishing, something he’d done since his childhood with his parents, sister, and later with his sons. He also enjoyed gold prospecting and target shooting. Steve was a rock music fan, attending many concerts in his earlier years, and could be found routinely sporting a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and rocking out while driving his truck cross country in his later years. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the home of his son, Shane, in Citrus Springs, Florida. In lieu of flowers or charitable donations, the family asks anyone reading to get the Led out…crank the Zeppelin up…and do a couple big burnouts or donuts for their dad. Please share memories at www.FuneralAlternatives.org.
Published by Chicago Tribune on Jun. 11, 2023.
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