Steven Storm
August 20, 1928 – January 25, 2023
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 long-time Banff resident Steve Storm died peacefully of stroke-related complications in his 95th year. Born in South East Sulawesi (Indonesia) to missionary parents, Steve and his family returned to Holland with the impending outbreak of WW2 when he was 10 years old. The death of his father and WW2 in short order caused great hardship for Steve, his mother and 3 siblings.
Following conscripted military service Steve immigrated to Canada in 1951, first to Toronto and then Vancouver where he earned his arts degree at UBC. Summers were spent logging and truck driving in BC and the Yukon. The beauty and raw wilderness of the Yukon drew Steve to settle in Whitehorse where he met and married Erna Trompeter (1960), a beautiful German immigrant, and where the family grew to include Evelyn (1961). The young family moved across the country to Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where Steve earned his teaching degree at Acadia University (1962) and where Ilya (1963) completed the family.
Subsequently migrating west, Steve and Erna fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and with Banff. Steve’s decades as a math teacher at Banff Composite (Community) High School gave him great pleasure. His love of Mathematics was equal in measure with his love for teaching the subject to young people. The combination of his natural curiosity and a passion for knowledge made him an inspiring teacher to many. He was proud of his many students who went on to have rewarding careers of their own.
Predeceased by his wife Erna (1996), Steve was lucky enough to be reunited with the “the girl next door” with whom he grew up in Holland, Wil Breedveld. They shared decades of love, laughter and adventure. In addition to his loving partner Wil, Steve will be sadly missed by his daughter, Evelyn Storm (Kerry Saunders) of Kimberley, BC, son Ilya Storm (Heidi Grasswick) of Revelstoke, BC and Middlebury VT, granddaughters Bretton Saunders of Calgary, AB, and Allyson Saunders of Palmer Rapids, ON, sister Jos Storm of Banff, AB, brother Dr. Ingmar Storm (Mariana) of Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, nieces, nephews and his close friend of nearly 6 decades, Doug Purkis of Banff, AB.
Throughout his life Steve was fulfilled by hiking and backpacking in his beloved Rocky Mountains, studying everything that fed his keen intellect, reading voraciously, exploring the world and being a center piece in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He lived independently in his home until the end, enjoying his daily beer, classical music and mountain views. We feel gratitude when we reflect upon his 34,491 days and 94 rotations around the sun!
Steve was provided with outstanding care by Dr. Mette Hoegh-Petersen, Michelle Onate and many other medical and helping professionals in the Bow Valley, for which the family is grateful. Steve generously donated his body to the University of Calgary Medical School. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Steve’s memory to one of the charities he supported including: CORE International, Doctors Without Borders, SOS Children’s Villages Canada or The War Amps of Canada.
