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Stephen Gelnett

9/19/1951 - 12/29/2023

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Obituary For Stephen Gelnett

Stephen Arthur Gelnett (Steve) was born in Lewisburg, PA on September 19, 1951, and died in Chesapeake VA on his 50th wedding anniversary, December 29, 2023. He grew up in Milton, PA the son of Ann and Dr. Arthur Gelnett. He is survived by his three brothers, Scott Gelnett of Northumberland, PA, Tom Gelnett of Ocean View, DE, and Tim Gelnett of Wentzville, MO. He is also survived by his wife, Barbara Gahan Gelnett of Chesapeake, VA and their three children, Benjamin of Charlotte, NC, Alison Schultz of Virginia Beach, VA, and Jacob Gelnett of Chesapeake, VA. He has five beloved grandchildren, Baylee Hopkins, Annabelle and Calum Gelnett, and Levi and Grant Gelnett.

While growing up in Milton, Steve made a name for himself on the gridiron as an accomplished All State high school linebacker for the Milton Panthers. He extended his football playing years at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA where he graduated in 1973, the same year he married his college sweetheart, Barbara Gahan of Belmont, MA. His career interests always centered around construction, first with concrete manufacturing companies in New Jersey, and later constructing nuclear power plants with Bechtel Corporation in Midland MI, and at the Marble Hill Nuclear Power Station in Indiana. With the fading of the Nuclear industry in the mid 1980’s, the Gelnett family moved to Virginia Beach, VA as Steve went to work for Newport News Shipbuilding. At Newport News Steve worked in varying capacities related to the procurement and quality of materials used to build the ships and submarines for the U.S. Navy.

During his time in Virginia Beach he was active in the First Assembly of God church on Great Neck Rd. which eventually changed into Wave Church. He was a dedicated leader in the Royal Ranger Program that mixed Boy Scout type skills with Christian spiritual growth. Royal Rangers had annual events like the Soap Box Derby, and large regional campouts that Steve loved. He also had a gift of hospitality along side of his wife. The Gelnetts hosted a wide variety of people in their home: traveling musicians, pregnant single moms for the Crisis Pregnancy Center, homeless people, and foreign exchange students. He enjoyed family based activities like his children’s concerts and sporting events, playing golf and fishing. His favorite place on earth to be was Weikert, PA at the Gelnett family cabin.

He traveled extensively for his job, and in 2002 left Virginia to work in Long Beach, CA to become a Vice President of Sales for CUNICO Corporation, a manufacturer of valves and pipe fittings. He retired in 2012 due to health issues and he and Barbara moved to New England to be close to Barbara’s elderly mother and moved back to the Virginia after she passed away in 2016. He has lived in Chesapeake since then and has struggled with life threatening health issues for several years. He was an easy going man who always had a quick smile on his face despite his pain and disabilities. Hospital staff who cared for him often referred to him as, “such a sweet guy.” Whatever else he was he was a kind, nice guy. There are not enough of them around; he will be missed by those who know him best.

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Condolences

  • 01/11/2024

    Erika Schleifman

    Dearest Barbara - I'm so sorry to hear of Steve's passing. I'll hold you and your family in my prayers. Erika (Ricki) Weaver Schleifman

  • 01/10/2024

    Lorraine Singley

    Our hearts are with you in this time of sorrow. May God's comfort and love be with you and your family in your time of need. Lori & George Singley

  • 01/10/2024

    George Singley

    Far too many years separated me from my friend, my buddy and my best man. That was my loss and I regret it deeply. But Steve's passing is a far greater loss to so many of us who knew his generosity, his gentle spirit and his simple goodness. I will grieve someday soon, but my memories of the times we spent together at Juniata, his cabin, mixing concrete in South Jersey or during our outrageous spring breaks in Key West bring only joy and happiness. My sadness will come but not while I remember my best man. Before he found everlasting love with Barb, and even after, we were inseparable. Steve and I were so different in many ways. He was the athlete possessed with remarkable talent and strength with so many trophies and accolades to prove it. He was a far better student filled with a quiet self-confidence I envied and respected but still we were best friends. He was my best man. Steven and I dodged a few bullets, and we had a few occasions when others thought we crossed a line or two, even spending a week or two confined to our dorm rooms after suffering outlandish accusations, only a few of which were true. But no matter the adventure, Steve wore his strength and his dignity with such quiet comfort that we all looked to him as a big brother. When most of us were relegated to our own narrow group, Steve Gelnett defied such limitations. He was a jock who felt at ease with the hippies, the nerds, the rebels and those that lived at the library. We all trusted, respected and admired him. He had a beautiful girlfriend who he loved until his final breath, and he was the first of us to experience the love of wonderful children. I, along with many of us, was way behind him in that line. But when it was my time, I knew enough to ask him to be my best man, because he was always just that. Goodbye my friend, I am sad to know that someone like you has left this world. But I am filled with the joy our friendship brought to me and I have absolute confidence that your love, your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of so many of us will take you to a far better place. I will see you when I cross that river. God Bless you, my best man.

  • 01/10/2024

    Ronda Adams

    We rejoice in the hope that Steve is celebrating his homecoming with the angels. May God bring comfort and solice to his family who are missing him. He is listening to the best gospel music now.hugs Barb.

  • 01/10/2024

    Liz

    Thinking of you Barbara, Allison, Ben, Jake. Liz Schleeper

  • 01/09/2024

    Paula Curran

    Barbara my childhood friend. It's lovely to have a brief but visual moment knowing your husband. Peace to you.

  • 01/09/2024

    Paula Curran

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