Stephen Tolen

Steve was born December 17, 1949, in South Haven to parents Nate and Ruth Tolen.

He grew up in South Haven, attending South Haven Schools, playing on the golf team and working in his parents' clothing store (the N & R Department Store) before finishing his senior year in Ann Arbor in 1968. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and went on to the National School of Chiropractic in Lombard, IL, graduating in 1979 with a Doctor of Chiropractic.

Steve moved to Chapel Hill NC to establish his chiropractic practice in 1980, staying there until moving back to South Haven in 2006. He died peacefully in his home on December 11, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. Steve spent his last days surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Arlene. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Reintjes-Tolen and former spouses, Susan Reintjes and Karen Moore.

Steve was a fine wood worker. From laminated cutting boards to serving trays to chests of drawers to beds, he leaves behind many beautiful, finely crafted works of art. He also was a prime source of design and labor in building his home in Chapel Hill. He was a highly competent golfer with a smooth swing that was the envy (and irritation) of his fellow golfers. In his first outing after chemotherapy in early 2024, he wowed his golf companions with a 78 at Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck-not an easy track. He served as the swing coach on the South Haven High School Girls' Golf Team for many years.

Steve dedicated a great deal of his final years in South Haven volunteering at First Hebrew Congregation. He played a significant role in refurbishing the synagogue of his childhood and in creating a Memorial to Jewish War Veterans at Lakeview Cemetery. In addition, Steve provided much-needed repair work at Church of the Epiphany, where he was affectionally known as "our Jewish carpenter."

Steve was one of the most good-natured, generous individuals one could ever meet. He was quick to offer help whenever it was needed or requested. Self-deprecating-sometimes to a fault-he was not one to make himself the center of attention. He was simply a pleasure to be around.

On the other hand, Steve could be quite stubborn. While this gave him the perseverance to complete complicated and difficult projects, it often perplexed, amused and sometimes aggravated those close to him. Cases in point, his golf bag was full of 30-year-old irons and his wardrobe was straight out of the '70's . . . yet, thus attired and equipped, he was beating us on the golf course! Another fault: a tendency towards pessimism. If you asked him after a round of golf, what score he thought he shot, his guess was always 3 or 4 strokes worse than the actual score-if he shot an 81, he assumed he'd shot an 84. To his credit, Steve always took the razzing he got for his foibles with great cheer. He will be sorely missed and long remembered. A memorial gathering will be announced at a later date.