Obituary of Steven Bradley West

Steven “Steve” Bradley West, 69, passed away suddenly and peacefully on October 1, 2023. He was the son of Albert “Al” Harley West, Jr. and Barbara “Barb” (Long) West. He was born on August 27, 1954 in Colorado Springs.

Steve grew up in Colorado Springs where he had a fun and happy childhood. He was an excellent baseball pitcher, winning many trophies and advancing into teams beyond his age group. Baseball was his life! Later he developed a real love of nature; hiking, fishing, and hunting whenever able. He climbed most of Colorado’s 14,000 feet peaks in his teens and twenties where he found his favorite church…. the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He was dedicated to conserving nature and wildlife his entire life. 

Steve graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1972. When his parents started their boating business, Al West Boat Shop in 1976, he attended Mercury Marine University and trained with the Outboard Motor Corporation (OMC) to become a certified boat motor repair technician. He then became an outboard motor and inboard/outboard (I/O) motor technician extraordinaire. He proceeded to earn the reputation among the Colorado Springs locals as the guy who could fix almost anything other technicians couldn’t! Then, when Al West Boat Shop closed in 2006, Steve decided to carry on the boat motor repair tradition and opened Al West Boat Service in 2007 with his wife Julie. His business thrived for twelve years with the expert help of Dennis Cheetsos, another boat motor repair technician extraordinaire, until 2019 when he closed the business for retirement.

Steve was a wonderful and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was so loved by family, friends, and clients and respected by all for his honesty, integrity, and caring ways. 

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Julie West of Falcon, CO; his daughters, Cara West of Lakewood, CO and Katie Watkins of South Dakota; his mother Barbara West, brother Scott (CeCe) West; sisters Staci (Bill) Webb and Lisa (son Adam) West all of Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Tyrae, Jacob, Nicole, Jared, Kianna, and Jordan. 

He was preceded in death by his father Albert; and his son David “Dave” West.

Steve leaves behind family, friends and so many clients who will always remember him with a smile and a longing for just a little more time to enjoy his great sense of humor and a little expert advice on many different practicalities of life! Quiet, brave in adversity and strong in character, Steve leaves us all with a sense of satisfaction, knowing we are all the richer for having known him.

Celebration of Life, 11:00AM, Saturday, October 14, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a charitable contribution in Steve’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org