A memorial service for Steve Konell will be held on Monday, August 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Community Church, 28986 SE Haley Rd., Boring.
Steve died at his home in Troutdale after a battle with cancer on Friday, July 31, 2009. He was 53.
Steve Alan Konell was born on November 7, 1955 in Portland to Russell and LuRee Konell. The family lived in Portland where Steve began his schooling at Lynch and Marysville Grade Schools. At the age of 9, they moved to Welches where he finished his elementary education. He received his high school education at Sandy High School where he played basketball and football. His basketball team took 5th in State in the 1973-1974 season. After graduating, Steve furthered his education at Clackamas Community College studying forestry and playing basketball. Steve then began his career in construction and worked for Don Obrist Excavating where he was employed for 10 years before starting Konell Construction. Since 1981, Steve has been the Owner and President of the company with 60 employees, 20 of which have been with the company for over 15 years. Steve was at the forefront of environmentally friendly construction practices, recycling metal, wood and concrete long before the industry followed. Under Steve’s leadership, Konell won many awards for green building. The company motto was “Using The Past To Build The Future”.
Konell Construction has been involved in the construction of residential and commercial projects in the Sandy, Gresham and Troutdale areas, Sandy High School baseball fields, Sandy Historical Museum, Safeway Shopping Center, Sandy Market Place, Fred Meyer, Mt. Hood Forest Service Building, Mt. Hood Industrial Park, 7-11, Plaid Pantry, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Janz Berryland/Fred’s RV, Thrifty Auto/Car Wash and Wasson Winery, Bluff Housing Development, Bluff Road widening, Parkway Housing Development, Suburban Ford and Chevrolet, Walgreens, Gresham Plaza, Salvation Army, Gresham High School Addition, Troutdale Terrace, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, La-Z-Boy Complex, Edgefield Condos, Mutual Materials Expansion and Hogan Road Bridge. Konell Construction has supported Music in Meinig Park, Sandy VFW, Sandy High School, Union Gospel Mission, YMCA, American Heart Association, Oregon Food Bank, Kids Wish Network, Special Olympics of Oregon, Sandy Kiwanis, Junior Achievement, Sandy Softball, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Sandy FFA, Sandy High School Athletics, American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Sandy High School Volleyball. They sponsored Ski Teams, Moto-Cross, Golf Tournaments and Overseas Missions.
Steve had a great love for his family, his dogs and taking care of his employees. He enjoyed nature and the outdoors and traveling with Steve was always an adventure. Steve’s theory was to forget the schedule, he had his own time frame and agenda! He had a passion for motorcycle racing which he began at the age of 6, bow hunting, fishing, playing basketball, Nascar, riding his Harley and snowmobiling.
Surviving are his father, Russell Konell; his mother, LuRee Vaughn; his brothers, Jack Konell, Mitch Konell and Jeff Konell; his sister, Ronda Kapule; his son Kyle Konell and daughter Karha Konell.
The family is asking in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or the Oregon Humane Society.