Steven Paul Troglin

Steven Paul Troglin, to know him was to love him. He loved back until he had nothing but a sweet, happy expression left to offer the world. It was the most beautiful thing he ever gave us – one last hug for our hearts, and isn’t it just like Steve?

He was born 19 April 1968, and he died in our home – where we have always said “love lives here” – on 30 September 2013, surrounded by loved ones. Steve’s life was well lived, and we were all blessed to be a part of it.

Steve attended school and graduated from Collinsville High School in 1986. He had played baseball, football, wrestled, shot skeet and trap competitively – holding the honor of state champion multiple years and having been invited to shoot at the Olympic games. He worked on a local dairy farm since he was twelve years old until he finished high school. He loved to fish, and would catch some real jewels, only to pose for pictures with the fish and then release them so he could catch them again another time.

Steve was the youngest and the only boy in a darling blend of eight fabulous cousins in his mother’s family, all growing up very dear to one another and making memories along the way that are so very precious now. Trips each year to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to play in the swimming pool and learn to swim from his adventurous “Aunt Merte,” Steve’s notorious green swimsuit and Cheetos gave him courage as his ornery cousins teased and taunted him lovingly.

Steve worked on a wheat harvest with his college roommate from Oklahoma State University, Doug Green. They went through the “Badlands” and all manner of countryside and had wonderful adventures. He spoke of it often. He was inspired partly by Doug to join the Air National Guard, as Doug joined the Army National Guard at the time.

Steve joined the 138th Fighter Wing, Tulsa Air National Guard on 14 September 1988. He proudly served for over twenty-five years, having deployed to the Middle East ten times: five to Turkey, one to Jordan, one to Qatar, and three times to Iraq. He had many other temporary duty assignments to places over the world from England to Puerto Rico to Alaska and Hawaii, all to work as a mechanic on the jets he loved. Steve’s job for twenty-five years was flight-line avionics technician, working on everything from radar to flight controls to radios and heads up displays… He launched, recovered, even ran jets in the engine test cell to troubleshoot – and troubleshooting was his real passion at work. He worked on A-7 and F-16 aircraft at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, and every other base the unit deployed.

Steve met Johnna on Main Street where Jimmy Owens had cut their hair since they were little. He said when he first saw her, he knew she was “the one.” When he took her flying (another great passion he enjoyed), Johnna’s feet never touched the ground since. After loved ones and friends kept asking “what are you two waiting for,” Steve and Johnna married in an intimate and unforgettable ceremony having “kicked everyone out after church” on 6 June 1999. The two had no biological children, but plenty of love to lavish upon the children God put in their lives.

Steve and Johnna lived in a cozy neighborhood where their “children” were given to them as “nieces, nephews, and neighbors.” He adored each of them, and was great to include recreation and responsibility. He wanted to ensure “his kids” were “raised right.”

Steve was preceded in death by grandparents, Minnie & Emmitt Craighead, and Ruby Garrison; uncle Michael Alan Brazeal; father-in-law, John Sandridge and stepfather-in-law, Jimmy Blakeman; brother-in-law, Tom Brookshire and sister-in-law, Barbara Jo (Sandridge) Brookshire.

Steve is survived by his wife, Johnna Kay (Sandridge) Troglin; mother, Erma Lee Hall and stepfather, John Walter “Bunk” Hall; father, Hobart “Hoby” Troglin and stepmother, Pearl Rose; sisters Lisa Troglin and Lori (Troglin) Graham, and brother-in-law, Troy Graham; and nephew, Jaden Lee Graham (6); mother-in-law, Carolyn Kay Blakeman; sister-in-law, Wanda Sandridge; brother-in-law, David Sandridge and sister-in-law Jerri Ann Sandridge; niece Mary Elisabeth (Sandridge) and Robert Dean; niece Sarah Lynn (Sandridge) and Paul Ragsdale; great-nephew, Thomas Wade Landry Dean (10) and great-niece, Emma Nicole Dean (9). Steve is also survived by many wonderful aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. He is survived by seven amazing women who will forever be part of an incredible team who now share the stories and laughter from their times growing up with their little cousin/prince with a new wonder at how blessed we have all been to know him and – naturally – to love him.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Steve’s name to the Disabled American Veterans. Send “In memory of Steve Troglin” to the following address:

Oklahoma DAV c/o Danny Oliver
2311 N Central Ave. Ste 100 B
Oklahoma City, OK 73105


Cultivate heart, mind, soul, and body.

Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 3, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Collinsville with interment following at the Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, OK.