Steve Decker Swank M.D.

The last nine years of Steve’s life brought health challenges which he faced with strength, hope, and joy.
When he made the decision to stop dialysis, he said his life had been a wild ride.
Steve was generous and kind, he had a wide variety of talents and interests and he fully engaged in the opportunities that came his way. 
Singing in the church choir, Duke Chorale, family weddings; acting and singing in school plays. 
He spent a year of high school in Chile as a foreign exchange student and was high school valedictorian when he returned to Seaford. 
There was a summer camp in his early years not fondly remembered due to the rain that swept he and his borrowed sleeping bag away in the mud plus the lake water was so cold he froze when he jumped in, and they put him in beginners swimming. 
The Ocean City house: family, cousins, riding the waves, riding bikes, the boardwalk, and the snake.
8mm home movie camera and making movies with his cousins and friends. 
Cub scouts to boy scouts; one year at scout camp he was responsible for a neighbor and fellow scout not burning the camp down.
Taking Nan to the hospital when her wrists were cut running through the glass door (he was chasing her). 
Medical school; practicing as a family physician in Talihina and McAlester, Oklahoma and Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. 
Baking and decorating an anniversary cake for mom and dad but the fondant was so hard it was inedible. The wedding cake for Chris and Joe turned out perfectly and many other cakes and delicious meals he made for family and friends were enjoyed through the years. 
Becoming an uncle to Clark, Kristen, and Kirk. Providing car seats, rocking chairs, home movie cameras. Six Flags over Texas with Clark; movie nights and Comic Con creations with Kristen; the road to Hana where Kirk’s scoop of ice cream landed on Uncle Steve’s shoe.
Steve was able to share his love of Hawaii by taking his parents on vacation there and after moving to Maui hosting family and friends.
His artistic talent and interest gained new expression after attending animation school. He collaborated on numerous animation projects including animating the creations of Leonardo Davinci; an informational malaria film; creating unique family pictures and gifts. 
We know Steve would say the most important part of his wild ride were the family and friends he shared it with. He appreciated the opportunity to hear from and share memories and laughter with you during his last days. If you knew Steve, you also knew his laugh and he hoped you would remember him when you heard a laugh off in the distance.
Steve was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 16, 1953, the son of Ken and Jeanne Swank. He passed away on March 22, 2023, with his sisters Nan and Chris by his side.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20