Kevin Paul Sterner's Obituary
Surrounded by love from his family, Kevin Paul Sterner passed away peacefully on July 23,
2022 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born on May 3, 1958 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Lois and
Carl Sterner. Nearly 60 years ago, Kevin moved to Tucson with his siblings Michael, Lois, and
Gary. During the cross-country road trip, his parents were still deciding on which Arizona city to
move to, but with a little help of the scorching heat, a speedy decision was made to live in
Tucson since it was much closer than Phoenix on the map. Kevin spent the following years
growing up in the desert and became drawn to the world of art — painting, drawing, ketchup
and mustard art on sandwiches, and playing guitar. Mastering the guitar came naturally to him,
whether it be learning by ear or attending school dances so he could memorize the chords the
live band was playing on stage. From Pennsylvania to Tucson, then San Diego back to Tucson,
he met a lot of people along the way and touched the hearts of many. Using his artistic abilities,
Kevin scored a job as a graphic designer at what is now known as Raytheon, from which he
retired in 2013. However, music was his passion and he made sure to play as often as possible,
join as many bands as he could, and share his musical knowledge with those closest to him.
Thousands of gigs later, Kevin really struck a chord with the locals when his act “Strait Country”
hit the scene. It was an ode to his favorite musician and country singer, George Strait. Kevin
leaves his wife of 27 years, Wanda Sterner, his children Amanda, Staci, Dru, and Matthew.
That’s only the immediate list of family, though, and so many others felt as if they were Kevin’s
kids as well. He was wholeheartedly proud of his seven grandchildren and the multiple pets he
loved taking care of daily — dogs, chickens, goats, and even a horse & cow, of course. He will
be missed dearly by his family, friends, and everyone he had met over the years.
What’s your fondest memory of Kevin?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kevin?
Share a story where Kevin's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kevin you’ll never forget.
How did Kevin make you smile?
