Obituary of Steve Tornes

Steve Tornes, 69, passed away at home on October 14th, 2023.

He was born on October 10, 1954 to Norman and Katherina Tornes in Moline, Illinois.  

Steve went to grade school in Coal Valley, Illinois and graduated from Moline High School in 1972.  He then attended and graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. He later earned a Master Degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Steve was a beloved teacher and mentor to many of his students in Colorado Springs. 

He taught at Panorama Junior High School for a number of years and then later taught at Sierra High School.   

He received numerous awards while teaching at Sierra including Teacher of the Year award in 1985.  

After retiring from Sierra High School, he tutored at the Pikes Peak Community College.

Steve had a number of interests. He was a violinist in the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra for a number of years, was an avid photographer, and a fabulous gourmet cook. He had a dry sense of humor and loved to make people laugh.

He also loved to travel and visited a number of different countries with various friends throughout the years. He also traveled to Germany many times with his brother Ralph, to sight see as well as visit their mother’s hometown to visit relatives and friends that they had met during their youth, when traveling there with their mother to visit their German grandparents.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved dog, Pepe; and cats, Kiki and Mitzi.  

He is survived by his brother, Ralph (Sandra) Tornes; several cousins; and numerous friends.

Visitation, 2:00PM, Monday, October 23, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.

Funeral Service, 3:00PM, Monday, October 23, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.