Born to Ezra Miller Wolgemuth (from Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania and raised in the Brethren in Christ Church) and Evelyn Agnes McVety (a school teacher born in Detroit). His parents met in Detroit, Michigan where Evelyn was the Church Organist and Ezra was the Minister of Music. Ezra and Evelyn moved to California in 1958 so Ezra could attend USC to obtain his Masters Degree in Church Music.

Stephen Alan Wolgemuth was born in Lynwood, California on January 18, 1959. His sister, Joyce Elizabeth Wolgemuth, was born in 1961 in Whittier, California

The kids grew up in two homes in Whittier on Vanport and Floral Avenues. Steve and Joyce enjoyed growing up as Pastor’s kids. Ezra took on new responsibilities as Administrator of the Whittier Christian Schools, as well as Minister of Music. Steve always had his father as his school principal.

Steve was an excellent musician who developed from a family dedicated to music. Ezra had a lovely tenor voice and Evelyn could always accompany on piano or organ. Steve and Joyce woke early for music practice before school: 30 minutes on piano and 30 minutes on violin. Steve’s early musical success can be attributed to the excellent ear training he received playing the violin. He played violin and baritone in the Whittier Christian School band. In the summers, the Wolgemuth family would tour the US and perform at churches on the way to visit family in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Steve started high school at Whittier Christian High School in 1973. He was active as a wrestler and played center on the football team. In his last year of high school, he quit playing football to become the first drum major for the Whittier Christian High School band. While in high school, he continued playing violin, learned how to play the tuba, and sang in church and school choirs. Steve played in the Rio Hondo Youth Symphony on violin. Steve was accepted with a full scholarship to the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music on violin.

On April 19, 1977, when Steve was 17, his dad went out for a morning run and soon returned with chest pains. He died in Steve’s arms on the way to the hospital. Instantly, the Wolgemuth family’s life changed. Steve couldn’t bear to leave his mother alone, so he declined the full scholarship to Wheaton. Instead, Steve accepted a partial music scholarship to Biola University with the tuba as his primary instrument. After 15 years of violin lessons, Steve’s mother was quite surprised at the change of events. Steve always felt that he had made the correct decision to stay with his mother.

At Biola as a Music Major, Steve played with the Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band and Brass Quintet. Steve and Debbie met playing in the Symphonic Winds. They dated for two years before marrying on December 13, 1980. . I am thankful that Steve took a chance on me…a strong-willed young lady…who had been on her own since her junior year in high school…from a crazy Portuguese family from Central California. They decided to make their marriage fun from the start. Their engagement theme song was "Another One Bites the Dust" and verse "It is better to marry than to burn." They were dedicated to ministry serving in the church orchestra, jazz band, choir, small singing groups, directing children’s choirs, playing in the handbell choir and Steve running the sound system. The night after they married, they played in their church’s Christmas concert (Steve was the Concertmaster) and they left for their honeymoon the next day.

Steve’s career started teaching junior and senior high math, computers, music and choirs at Bakersfield Christian Life School. After teaching one year, he decided that full time teaching wasn’t his passion. So what was he going to do for work with a music degree? His stepfather, Delbert Bronson, offered Steve a job at his oil company, Lakewood Oil Service. After Lakewood closed, Steve was hired to work at the Unocal Oil Refinery in Wilmington. It was hard working revolving shifts and commuting 75 miles one way to work. But, he loved his job and remained there for 23 years. Steve was passionate about the acid plant and the special projects he worked on. He provided well for his family.

Steve and Debbie postponed starting their family for ten years until they had chances to travel together and establish their careers, Steve in the oil business, Debbie in accounting. They moved to the Inland Empire in 1988 to purchase their first home.

Aaron Ezra Wolgemuth was born on September 12, 1991. Steve was so proud of his son, who was so much like himself. He was proud of Aaron’s character, acceptance of Christ at age 4, and talent in music. Steve loved helping Aaron develop as a singer, pianist and marveled how much more he understood in music theory than he ever did in high school. They loved watching football games and throwing a football together.

Hannah Joyce Wolgemuth was born on July 11, 1996. Steve adored his precious daughter, but didn’t understand her. He could never understand why she needed another pink blouse or a new purse. But, he tried. Steve rejoiced when Hannah accepted Christ at age 3, and guided her through five years of piano lessons. He saw that she had a gift to dance and was eager to get Hannah lessons to improve. Steve was always nurturing with Hannah and always had time to give her cuddles, which she adored.

About ten years ago Steve realized that his gift was helps. He was less and less interested in being "up front" and a soloist. Steve was comfortable playing the tuba in the back of the orchestra and establishing a steady beat, than being the concertmaster of the orchestra. He wasn't interested in singing solos, but happy being a part of the VCC choir and worship teams. He loved handling sound design for RYT and several churches. What a blessing to have the best musician with a fantastic ear mixing sound for your production or service?

Steve worked diligently in helping establish Riverside Youth Theatre in 2000. In the early years, Steve was patient as we loaned what little money we had to keep RYT going. He was supportive of Riverside Youth Theatre and worked on each musical. Steve took vacation time so he could guarantee being able to handle sound for every production. He loved coming home to his office where he would sit at his computer, arranging and writing music. Steve served as Music Director, Arranger and Sound Designer for RYT. The RYT students, parents, and production crew will miss him and his service.

The entire Wolgemuth family was tired from a busy year of producing five musical productions and needed a vacation. They planned a cruise on the Carnival Princess to Catalina and Ensenada. It was their first family vacation in nine years. Steve read and took naps on the cruise, just what he wanted to accomplish. They returned from their vacation and Steve returned to work.

Steve called at noon to say that he wasn’t feeling well and was immediately returning home. That was extremely unusual for him, the guy who never gets sick. On Tuesday he went to Urgent Care and was told that he had a viral infection. Steve was uncomfortable sleeping laying down or sitting up all Wednesday. On Thursday morning he awoke with numbness on his left side and black dots on his fingers and toes. We immediately returned to Urgent Care in the morning, where they put him on a gurney and started tests. They narrowed down Steve’s illness to either viral or bacterial meningitis, endocarditis or a heart attack. Steve was transferred to Loma Linda’s ER at 5:00 PM. Dr. Chin starting reviewing Steve’s tests, ordering some additional ones, consulting his colleagues as he tried to narrow down Steve’s illness. Debbie continued to try and make Steve comfortable as he slid off the end of his gurney every ten minutes and she had to pull him back up. By midnight, Debbie was exhausted and crying. Through Steve’s pain, he told Debbie how much he loved her, what a wonderful wife she had been and how she could keep on. The nurses realized at 2:00AM that Steve was struggling to breathe and he was moved to the Cardiac ER area and was assigned an individual nurse. By 3:00 AM Steve was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

Steve fought against the bacteria in his system for 29 days. Why? The Lord knew how Ezra’s sudden passing deeply grieved Steve. I believe that the Lord showed compassion on Steve’s family and friends so we would have some time with him before he left us. Steve was able to give his wife a blessing of love in the emergency room. Steve was soon sedated and never could speak again. But, he would open his eyes when family or friends talked to him in his room. Even with a breathing tube in his mouth, he mouthed to us on several occasions, "I love you." Those are gifts from the Lord that the family will always cherish.