Steven John Liimatta was called home on January 28, 2022 in Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital.   Steve passed away as a result of liver failure. In spite of his time on Earth being too short, he lived a full life. It is clear from condolences and well wishes that family, friends and acquaintances just liked to be around him.  Everyone knew Steve by his nickname, “Jake”, after the famous boxer Jake Lamotta.  Jake was born November 21, 1959 in Crittendon General Hospital, Highland Park, Michigan.  He was the 3rd son of Ruth E. Liimatta (nee Tapio) and Rev. Elmer R. Liimatta. Early in life the family lived in Detroit on Chalfonte Avenue. Steve’s Father Elmer served the Detroit and then Southfield Apostolic Lutheran Church for almost 40 years. Steve was raised as a Lutheran and grew up participating in all the annual Sunday school and regular activities in the Church. In the mid-1960s the family moved to Southfield when the Church built a new building on Lahser Road. 

Jake is the first child and sibling to pass away from the family.  He is survived by Parents Elmer and Ruth (Chassell, MI), and four brothers, Daniel, Jeffrey, Kevin (Kathleen), and Mark.  There are also many aunts and uncles, and a whole host of cousins and extended family scattered around the country.  Steve also had very special friends Donna Mack and her sons, Jim, Tony and Chris in Detroit, all who spent a lot of time with him over the years and were like 2nd family to him.

 Jake loved the outdoors and everything about it. He enjoyed bow and rifle hunting for deer, bird hunting, and fishing in both summer and winter. Jake attended and graduated from Southfield High School. In his early years working he was involved in the food service industry, and later with a company that performed residential gas light conversions to low voltage electric. Steve finally settled into the construction industry as a cement mason.  He loved pouring concrete, laying block and brick, and getting dirty doing a good day of work. Later in life he was self-employed doing cement work for friends and customers who found him on word of mouth referrals.  

The family will have a private service for Steve, and he will be interred in the Copper Country (Houghton County, MI). Arrangements are being handled by family friend Paul Potti of Thayer-Rock Funeral Home.  A special thanks goes out to the staff, nurses, and doctors at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, 6th floor. Their effort to stabilize and sustain Steve over his last couple of weeks of life was exceptional.  Though we will all miss Jake’s big heart, caring way, and his smile going forward, John 11:25 reads: Jesus said to [us], I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…