Steven F. Papacosta

Steven Francis Papacosta, 63, of Green Bay, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on January 28, 2025, surrounded by his siblings. Steve was born to the late Gust and Rosemary Papacosta on February 23rd, 1961, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Steve had a tough life, but he had no regrets, and he never complained about his circumstances and health - he got the most out of it that he could. But life didn’t start out that way. He was a Steph Curry in grade school -siblings, friends, and cousins were always impressed with his acrobatic basketball shots. After a knee issue prevented him from playing after grade school he excelled in academics and became a high school Valedictorian. Steve immersed himself in music (huge Beatles and Bob Dylan fan) owning many harmonicas and guitars in his lifetime. He was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated as a math major from Lawrence University.

But during the years after college his schizophrenia and the voices that came with it were just too strong – even for him to control. He needed a heavy dose of medication each day to keep the voices at bay – but he hated the dulling effect on his thinking. So the next twenty years he tried to reduce his medication on his own; however, each time he thought he found the right balance the voices would keep coming back. It was a struggle for him every day.

During his last twenty plus years he had come to accept his medical condition and made the best life possible. During those years he admittingly smoked too much, but if anyone deserved a vice it was him. On many weekends he would come over for lunch or dinner to watch Packers, Brewers, and Bucks games with family. He always enjoyed choosing the meal, hearing the latest about his nieces’ and nephew’s lives, and coaching Alex and Nick in math at the dining room table if someone needed a patient math tutor. But the most memorable times were just simply driving back and forth from family and listening to old and new music and listening to his musical insights. He was mentally sharp all of the way up to his death. There were many times Steve was the phone-a-friend to answer any family details from our times growing up. We would just put the phone on the middle of the table with the speaker on and he would just answer all the questions as if he was sitting next to us in the room with family members.

Steve is survived by his brothers, Andrew, Gregory (Tracy) and sister Mary (Tom) Delay; nieces Alexandria Papacosta and Britney (Devon) Johnson; and nephew Nicholas Papacosta.

To honor Steve’s memory, a service will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Sturgeon Bay, on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. There will be a gathering at Stone Harbor Resort, Sturgeon Bay, for family and friends to continue the celebration. Anyone is welcome to join.

Steve would want to thank Unity Hospice and the nursing staff at the Jack and Engrid Meng Hospice Residence for the wonderful care and compassion provided to him and his family.

“I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it” (Bob Dylan, Mr. Tambourine Man).