Steve Sajner
Steve Sajner, 71, a life-long resident of Painesville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a decade of fighting and conquering AML and a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Friends and family were grateful to be by his side to spend his last days together as his final fight concluded. Steve was born in 1952 in Painesville to Steve and Julia (Nemeth) Sajner. He was a 1971 graduate of Riverside High School in Painesville Township and married his high school sweetheart Leila Lampinen in 1973. They were happily married for 50 years and would have celebrated their 51st anniversary together this summer.
Steve, like his father before him, was the owner/operator of Lake County Door in Painesville until the mid-nineties when he decided to sell the business and pursue other interests. Until his AML diagnosis in 2014 and successful stem-cell transplant, thanks to his “perfect match” and dear sister Carole in 2015, Steve had been an avid cross-country and downhill skier. He loved to travel, especially across the country to visit National Parks. He loved spending time with his family and friends, woodworking, canoeing, tending to the vegetable garden, and rebuilding classic cars. He took great pride in rebuilding a 1930 Ford Model A side-by-side with his father before his father’s passing in 1990 and continued to work on his 1969 Camaro until it became too difficult for him. He will be watching over his son-in-law and grandson as they take over where he had stopped.
Steve is survived by his wife Leila (Lampinen); daughters, Lynette (Jon) Ruple of Munson and Suzette (Shane) Horner of Concord; grandchildren, Jonathon (Jack) and William Henry (Hank) Ruple, and Steven, Smith, and Sarah Grace Horner. He is also survived by his sisters Carole (Doug, deceased) Hunt, Judy (Vince) Roessner, and Sandie Sajner and brother-in-law Mauri Lampinen; along with numerous loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Steve Sajner (1990), mother Julia Sajner (1997), and brother-in-law Doug Hunt (2021).
A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at a later date per his wishes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you take a moment to hug someone dear to you and give thanks for those in your life. The family is so grateful for everyone that has been rooting for Steve over the years with prayers and those that were with him at the very end. Should you wish to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; without their medical research, he would not have been a candidate for the transplant that provided him so many extra years with his family and friends.