Steve Gillaspie

Steve Gillaspie, age 73 of Arlington, founder and CEO of Veterans on the Water, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at his rural Arlington residence. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 15th between the hours of 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. at the Veterans Mess Hall, formerly Steve’s Copy Shop. The Celebration of Life will be hosted and served by the Board Members of Veterans on the Water. A short prayer service with military honors by the local Honor Guard will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 14th at the Walking Path of Honor at Memorial Park, 500 W. Douglas Street, Arlington, MN. Private interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. 

Steven Lee Gillaspie was born on June 28, 1949 in Albia, Iowa to Eugene Grover and Elenora June (Percell) Gillaspie. He entered the US Army during the Vietnam Era and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.  After that he went to school to become an Army Ranger which he was extremely proud of! On March 24, 1970 while assigned to the 199th Infantry Brigade he was wounded by gunfire. Army Ranger Steven Gillaspie consequently received the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart decorations.

Steve married Jean Schaeffer on September 23, 1977. Steve was the founder and CEO of Veterans on the Water, taking veterans on free fishing trips. He previously owned and operated Steve’s Copy Shop, a printing shop in Arlington and had most recently renovated the space into a restaurant which almost, but never opened to the public. Steve enjoyed playing cards every Thursday with the seniors citizens and loved taking his red, white and blue tractors to parades. To Steve, it was all about red, white and blue!!

Steve is survived by his wife, Jean; step-son, John and his wife Caryl of Kansas; brother, Tim of Thailand; sister, Deb of Mississippi and brother-in-law, Allen and his wife Ardis; nephews and nieces, David, Craig and his wife Amy, Tammy, Nicole and her husband Steve, Eric and Sara, Skip and his wife Stacy, Rob and his wife Monica, Susie, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, cousins and greats.

Steve was preceded in death by his father Eugene Gillaspie, mother Elenora Thomas, step-mother Gwen Gillaspie and step-father Don Thomas, father-in-law Henry Schaeffer, mother-in-law Ruby Schaeffer, brother-in-law Henry Jr. (Bootsie) and sister-in-law Denise.

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