New Middletown – A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, November 21, at 11:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Church at 10143 Main Street in New Middletown, 44442, for Steve P. Razo, 85, who died Sunday, November 16, at his home surrounded by his family.

Steve was born May 18, 1940, in Youngstown a son of Eli and Helen Wac Razo.  He graduated from Springfield local in 1958 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Germany during the Cold War with the 7th armored cavalry regiment. He was proud of his military service and his unit had a long history known as the "Garyowen" regiment.

Steve was a bricklayer for many years and owned and operated a masonry construction company. After his time as a bricklayer, he worked as a mill superintendent for IMS for over fifteen years working all over the country including Texas and Minnesota. Steve grew up working on a farm and continued into adulthood.  He was proud to pass on all he knew about farming to his son, Eli. He raised poultry and had pigeons for several years. He enjoyed golfing in his earlier days and was a lifetime hunter, loving the peace and quiet of the woods for hours on end.

Steve was an avid gardener. He even planted his last crop of giant garlic this year to be harvested next spring.  His most infamous crop was his giant pumpkins.  He grew the heaviest field pumpkin ever in the state of Ohio in 2023.  The record still stands.  He also received awards for his squash and watermelons through the years.

Steve was very involved in his community.  He assisted with little league baseball. He was a 4H advisor for ten years and supported the 4H livestock sale. He was a member of the New Middletown Sportsman's Club, Johnson Club, and SNPJ. He was a lifetime member of both the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers and the Bessemer Croatian Club. He was a member of St. Paull the Apostle Church in New Middletown.

Steve leaves his wife the former Eleanor P. Sutak whom he married on August, 8, 1964, his son Eli J. (Carol) Razo of Salem, his daughter Stephanie Razo of Poland, his sister Kathy D'Amico of Poland, five grandchildren Eric Razo, Anna Gorrell, Maria Radcliff, Emily Razo, and Alex Bair, and two great grandchildren Noah and Griffin.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Razo and his sister Barbara Hallwood.

Friends may call on Friday, November 21, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at the Clemente Funeral Home at 10170 Main Street in New Middletown, 44442. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home at 10:30 am.

The family requests that material tributes in Steve's name be made New Springfield Rescue Squad at 3475 East South Range Road in New Springfield, OH, 44443, or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation which delivers mortgage-free homes to 25 Gold Star Families. Donations can be made at T2T.org.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent at www.ClementeFuneralHomes.com.